ZAMBIA NARROWLY ESCAPED CIVIL WAR….former Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba claims a Mundubile-Zulu victory would have ‘set the country on fire’ due to a lack of leadership capacity to curb post-election violence

A central pillar of Mr Kabimba’s critique focused on the failure of the opposition leadership to exhibit the strict internal discipline needed to manage unruly political factions.

He claimed that neither Mr Mundubile nor Mr Zulu possessed the political will to decisively dismantle caderism—a systemic issue that had historically fueled political violence across Zambia.

According to Mr Kabimba, managing a fragile democracy during high-stakes elections required an iron clad commitment to law and order.

He implied that a Mundubile presidency would have effectively ‘set the country on fire’ by allowing unchecked lawlessness to dictate national security

The remarks come at a time of heightened political anxiety in the country.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) recently declared incumbent President Hichilema the winner with 60 per cent of the vote, defeating Mr Mundubile, who garnered 38 per cent.

The electoral process itself was highly contentious, briefly marred by district-level clashes, allegations of ballot theft and a temporary six-hour suspension of vote counting that strained public patience.

While international observers have urged all political actors to maintain calm and utilise official legal channels, Mr Mundubile had rejected the outcome.

From an undisclosed location, Mr Mundubile announced his intention to legally challenge the results in the Constitutional Court, citing alleged voting fraud and transmission irregularities.

Mr Kabimba’s televised remarks on Muvi TV have since ignited intense public debate, with ruling party supporters praising his candid analysis of national security.