“Four of us were told not to stand, not even to bother to stand. Most of us obliged,” Nkombo said.

MAZABUKA – Prominent independent parliamentary candidate, Gary Nkombo, has offered his most comprehensive explanation to date regarding the circumstances that precipitated his exit from the governing United Party for National Development (UPND). Nkombo, who has long been a stalwart figure within Zambian politics and a Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central since 2006, disclosed that he and several other hopefuls were explicitly told not to pursue their ambitions for party adoption. This directive, he stated, was a significant factor in his decision to leave the party he had served for over two decades. The former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development articulated that the instruction to not stand for adoption was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of events that made his position within the party untenable. "Four of us were told not to stand, not even to bother to stand. Most of us obliged," Nkombo reportedly stated, shedding light on what appears to be an internal party mechanism to manage candidate selection. This revelation suggests a top-down approach to candidate adoption, potentially sidelining long-serving members in favour of other choices. Nkombo's resignation from the UPND, officially tendered on May 22, 2026, was also influenced by the legal requirement for independent parliamentary candidates to resign from their political parties at least 60 days before an election. However, his public statements indicate that the underlying issues went deeper than mere legal compliance. He cited a series of unpublicized and overtly displayed events, including an alleged assault and damage to his property by known UPND members on May 20, 2026, during the filing of nomination papers, as clear signs that he was no longer welcome within the party. The veteran politician, who has represented Mazabuka Central for multiple terms, emphasized that despite his deep loyalty and commitment to the UPND, the internal dynamics and perceived hosti