FORMER Socialist Party (SP) mobilisation secretary and 2026 presidential hopeful Kelvin Kaunda says some opposition political leaders who want to contest for presidency cannot even win a simple by-election for a councilor seat.
Speaking on Showstar’s House, Kaunda questioned claims by opposition parties that they are hugely popular, arguing that past election results tell a completely different story.
“So some of these political leaders that we have can’t even win a by-election as a councilor, they can’t,” Kaunda said.
According to him, some of these opposition figures only managed to gather about 3,000 votes in previous general elections, while claiming that he personally received over 35,000 votes when he contested as Mwembeshi ward councilor in 2016.
Kaunda disclosed that the numbers show who actually commands support on the ground.
However, contrary to his claims, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) reports show that he obtained 13,165.
He further added that even if these opposition leaders were given the next three general elections, they would still not be able to match his numbers.
“Today they have the latitude to tell us that actually they are in a space where they have become very popular. So how have we got into that space? Where suddenly from 3,000 they are more popular that they can give us 2.8 million,” Kaunda questioned.
Kaunda, is among several political figures who have publicly declared interest in running for the country’s presidency in the upcoming general election.
By George Musonda
Kalemba November 19, 2025
