Chris Zumani Zimba opposes petitioning 2026 election results, calls for dialogue

CHIEF Advisor to the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity [NRPUP] presidential candidate Chris Zumani Zimba has opposed petitioning the 2026 General Election results, saying it would amount to political confrontation.

Dr. Zimba said the country should instead pursue dialogue and reconciliation to ensure it benefits from national unity.

“The fact that somebody was ultimately declared the winner, and that is Hakainde Hichilema, by a legitimate and mandatory body, the ECZ, makes it very complicated for any of us to begin to fight that,” he said.

“In as much as it is desirable to go through the courts, we must know that once you begin to petition, you are not bringing political healing. Once you begin to go through the courts, you are using political confrontation,” Dr. Zimba said.

He said taking the matter to court would make it difficult for losing parties to return to negotiations if the petition failed.

“When you take that path and, if you don’t succeed, you cannot go back to the same parties or to the winner to negotiate for dialogue, reconciliation or peace,” he said.

(Mwebantu, Saturday, 22nd August, 2026)