RE-ELECTED Lusaka Province chairperson of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Obvious Mwaliteta, says opposition leaders are not ready for national leadership and should forgo the upcoming August 13 elections so that they focus on building political maturity.
Mwaliteta was speaking yesterday after being re-elected at the UPND Lusaka provincial convention in Chiranga, where he said becoming a Head of State, is a process that requires years of preparation, citing President Hichilema’s 20-year journey to the country’s highest office.
“To be a president is a process. It took 11 years for Michael Sata to become a president. It took President Hichilema more than 20 years to organize himself properly. Because he was prepared, you can see the results today,” Mwaliteta said.
He advised opposition politicians to wait until they are politically matured before attempting to challenge a sitting president.
“The advice to my colleagues is to forgo these elections. Organize yourselves properly, become mature politicians, and then maybe you can come up with a manifesto sweeter than what we have now,” Mwaliteta said.
The UPND Lusaka chairperson further said the party’s top priority is to mobilize support and secure votes for President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of the general elections.
He counted the party’s achievements under President Hichilema, including free education, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and school feeding programs, saying these policies were transforming the lives of Zambian children.
“All the children today, when they go to school, no one is paying anything,” he said.
Mwaliteta further assured Lusaka residents that the party is committed to a free, fair and peaceful election.
By George Musonda
Kalemba April 7, 2026
