Why people go to Mundubile’s rallies
1. He makes them feel HEARD
– Talks about mealie meal, fuel, fertilizer — not debt restructure
– We sound like economists. He sounds like an ordinary person
*2. He makes them feel SEEN*
– PF attends funerals, markets, churches. They go door-to-door
– Our structures only wake up near elections. His team works daily
*3. He sells HOPE*
– People remember PF “shared” — even though it caused the debt crisis
– Free education saves families money, but if food is still expensive, that win gets forgotten
*What we’re not doing well*
– *We speak policy, he speaks pain* — We say “macro stability,” he says “food prices”
– *We fixed the economy, but households still struggle* — Voters feel the shop prices, not the debt deal
– *We deliver but don’t showcase it* — 42K teachers hired, but do villages see the new desks?
– *We explain but don’t empathize* — People can accept hard times if they feel leaders share the burden
*Who’s going to his rallies?*
1. *The struggling* — Unemployed youth, marketeers, farmers waiting on inputs. They’re hungry, not loyal to PF
2. *The nostalgic* — Chiefs, small contractors who benefited under PF
3. *The impatient* — Young 2021 voters who expected faster change in their pockets
*What they’re saying about Bally*
– “He has forgotten the people” — They see us as technocrats now
– “PF may lie, but they talk about what we want to hear” — He addresses today’s pain
– “CDF isn’t reaching us” — Local councils fail, but the Presidency gets blamed
*What UPND must do NOW*
1. *Show up* — MPs and Ministers must visit markets and villages to listen, not to lecture
2. *Translate wins* — Don’t say “GDP grew 4.7%”. Say “Your child’s school is now free. That desk came from CDF”
3. *Fix last-mile delivery* — Audit CDF and FISP. Remove bottlenecks. Good policy fails with bad implementation
4. *Acknowledge the pain* — Say it plainly: “Things are hard. We’re sorry. Here’s why and when it will ease”
5. *Revive structures* — We won in 2021 by being everywhere, every day. We can’t govern from Lusaka alone
Bottom line
Mundubile isn’t strong. He’s filling a vacuum we left.
The biggest threat to UPND isn’t PF. It’s becoming comfortable.
Sadly while PF and Mundubile talk about the pain. Their way of dealing with the pain is akin to what we hear happening in Congo.
Where Ma Preacher na Nganga (witch Doctor some like those with PhDs and are on a Sabbatical….kikiki) are hoping Ebola will be cured through their prayer and charms.
While the messaging maybe a tit bit out of touch. The lack of charm doesnt change the facts. Increased meal allowance and cancelling student loans, allowing illegal mining and releasing convicts that looted this country is but a shallow and misplaced manner to seek votes and appease people. Using Lungu’s body wont reduce food prices in the city nor create jobs. Lies dont solve problems…they prolong them….when they steal dont think they will share with you. They are just using you…
