19/08/2026
NRPUP ACCEPTS RESULTS, VOWS TO CHECK GOVERNMENT
Tembo says the party will respect Hichilema’s victory while using Parliament to demand accountability
The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Progress (NRPUP) has accepted the election results announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), congratulating President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) on their victory.
NRPUP president Ezra Tembo told journalists at the media briefing the party had decided to accept the outcome and focus on the responsibilities that come with its emergence as a major opposition force in the country.
Tembo said the NRPUP also congratulated its presidential candidate and running mate for what he described as a spirited campaign, particularly considering that the party was less than three months old when it entered the election.
He said the performance of the party, including winning more than 60 parliamentary seats, was a major achievement that had given NRPUP a strong presence in the country's political landscape.
Tembo said the results had demonstrated that Zambians had entrusted the party with an important role in Parliament and that the leadership would not take that responsibility lightly.
He congratulated the more than 60 NRPUP Members of Parliament and councillors elected across the country, urging them to remain focused on the interests of the people who had voted for them.
According to Tembo, the party's immediate focus would be to ensure that Zambia moves beyond the election period and returns its attention to economic and social development.
He called on Zambians to give President Hichilema and the UPND room to govern, saying the country needed stability and cooperation if it was to address the challenges facing citizens.
Tembo, however, stressed that giving the government space to work should not be interpreted as giving it a free hand.
He said NRPUP would carry out its constitutional responsibility as the opposition by scrutinising government decisions, raising concerns affecting citizens and demanding accountability where necessary.
He said the party would use Parliament and other democratic platforms to provide effective checks and balances and promote good governance.
Tembo said the opposition should be able to disagree with the government without turning political differences into hostility or violence.
He urged NRPUP members and supporters across the country to avoid any form of political violence following the conclusion of the elections.
Tembo said political competition should end once the people had made their choice and that all political parties now had a responsibility to protect peace and Zambia's democratic process.
“Democracy is about respecting the will of the people, and sometimes it is not perfect. But the standard we have chosen to be governed by was not our time, we accept the outcome and remain committed to serving,” he said.
Tembo said the NRPUP leadership had therefore chosen to respect the election outcome while remaining committed to representing the interests of its supporters.
He said the party's acceptance of the results should also be viewed as a commitment to democratic principles and the peaceful transfer of political responsibility.
Tembo said NRPUP would engage the government through established democratic institutions rather than resorting to confrontation outside the law.
He said the party would also expect its elected MPs to remain responsive to the needs of their constituencies and ensure that issues affecting ordinary Zambians were raised in Parliament.
Tembo said the party's parliamentary strength presented an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national debate, legislation and oversight.
He said the NRPUP would support government initiatives that benefited citizens while challenging policies or decisions that it believed were not in the national interest.
Tembo further congratulated President Hichilema and the UPND on their victory, saying the new political chapter should now be centred on national development rather than prolonged electoral disputes.
He urged all political players to put Zambia's interests ahead of partisan considerations and allow institutions of democracy to function.
Tembo said the NRPUP statement had been issued in consultation with the leadership of the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, signalling the party's continued engagement within the broader political grouping.
He said the party would remain committed to reconciliation, unity and progress as it assumes its responsibilities in opposition.
Tembo concluded by urging NRPUP members nationwide to remain peaceful and respect the outcome of the election.
He said Zambia needed political leaders who could accept victory and defeat with maturity while continuing to serve the people.
“God bless you, and God bless Zambia,” Tembo said.
Nundwe Mubanga, NRPUP Secretary General, was also identified as part of the party leadership behind the statement.
