TONSE Alliance spokesperson Sean Tembo and group have subcontracted a group of bishops to reconcile them with Given Lubinda, Raphael Nakacinda and the PF.
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The appeal to religious authority comes as the coalition simultaneously announced a decisive process for selecting its 2026 presidential candidate.
According to a statement issued by Alliance spokesperson Sean Tembo, the resolution to seek faith-guided dialogue was adopted during the 15th Council of Leaders’ meeting held in Lusaka this morning.
The mediation is an attempt to stabilise the alliance and “foster unity” following months of tension and public speculation about disunity, specifically after the disruption of the previous Council meeting on September 30.
The Council’s mediation team consists of prominent alliance members, Kelvin Bwalya Fube, Sean Tembo, Brian Mundubile, Maureen Mabonga, and Chris Zumani Zimba.
The alliance stressed that while the dialogue is ongoing, all planned activities of the coalition will proceed unhindered.
Furthermore, Tembo announced that the leadership has formalised the process for electing the alliance chairperson and its 2026 presidential election candidate at a General Congress scheduled for Saturday, November 29, 2025.
The Alliance opened the contest to any Zambian citizen who became a member of the Tonse Alliance Council of Leaders as of October 31, 2025.
“All interested candidates must pay a substantial, non-refundable nomination fee of K300,000 and submit their nominations on Friday, November 7, 2025, through the office of the National Coordinator,” said Tembo.
However, Tembo said applications must be submitted by October 17, 2025, accompanied by a letter of invitation from an existing Council member.
The Alliance clarified that this requirement is meant to ensure that only active and verified members are eligible to seek leadership positions within the organisation.
However, in a separate meeting today the other alliance group of leaders spearheaded by Lubinda, Nakacinda and Danny Pule, the Tonse vice chairperson, warned that anyone who pays money to Tembo as nomination fee will just be losing out.
Pule said every meeting convened by the alliance without them is not a genuine one, as they make the top leadership.
Meanwhile, the Tembo announced that Council of Leaders members are now required to make monthly financial contributions; K3,000 for party presidents, K1,000 for members of parliament, and K500 for other Council members.
In addition, the alliance adopted a “three-strikes rule,” whereby members who abscond from three consecutive Council meetings without apology will be automatically replaced.
By Dorica Kapwaya
Kalemba, October 8, 2025.
