By Francis Chipalo
Zambia enters the August 2026 elections at a defining moment. Growth is projected, but too many households still feel the pinch of a high cost of living. Debt service consumes a large share of the budget. And young people, who make up the majority of the population, remain on the margins of economic decision-making.
The Democratic Union’s ticket of Ackim Antony Njobvu for President and Miriam Banda for Vice President offers a clear break from this pattern. It is not a ticket of recycled politics. It is a ticket of competence, unity, and urgency.
Njobvu and Banda represent a generation that has watched promises come and go. They are not products of the old patronage system. They are products of a Zambia that demands better. Their campaign is built on three pillars: economic ownership for Zambians, merit over patronage, and national unity over sectarian politics.
First, on the economy. Zambia’s wealth should benefit Zambians first. That means creating real space for youth-led SMEs, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs to participate in mining, agriculture, and technology value chains. It means reducing barriers to doing business and ensuring that public contracts are awarded on merit, not connection.
Second, on governance. For too long, public appointments have followed party lines. The result is a public service that rewards loyalty over competence. Njobvu and Banda are committed to a professional, non-partisan civil service where the best minds serve, regardless of political affiliation. They are also pushing for a Government of National Competence that draws talent from across the political spectrum.
Third, on unity. Zambia cannot afford another election cycle defined by regional and party division. The Democratic Union ticket has made it clear: the next five years must be about a national restoration program. That means truth and reconciliation, devolution of power, and a constitution that gives power back to citizens.
Critics will ask if a youthful ticket has the experience to govern. The answer is in the team.
Njobvu brings a strong grasp of Zambia’s economic challenges and the policy levers to address them. Banda brings credibility on social equity, education, and grassroots mobilization. Together, they balance vision with execution.
The alternative is more of the same: delayed payments, rising arrears, and politics that rewards loyalty over performance. Zambia cannot afford that cycle again.
This election is not about age for age’s sake. It is about urgency and fresh thinking. It is about leaders who have no stake in the failures of the past and every stake in the future.
On 13th August 2026, Zambians will choose between continuity and change. Ackim Antony Njobvu and Miriam Banda represent change that is credible, inclusive, and ready to govern.
Zambia is young and our leadership should reflect that. We have tried the old politics. It is time for a team with no baggage, with fresh ideas, and ready to govern.
Fellow Zambians, vote for competence. Vote for unity. Vote for the future. Vote for Ackim Antony Njobvu and Miriam Banda for a better and fresh Zambia under the Democratic Union