By 
Peter Chanda, the leader of the New Congress Party (NCP), has strongly criticized the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA), describing it as a “divided house full of treachery and selfish leaders.”
This statement followed Chanda’s announcement on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, that his party was exiting the alliance.
In a statement issued from Lusaka on Thursday, Chanda accused the UKA leadership of being “compromised and hired to frustrate the wish of Zambians” for an effective coalition to challenge the ruling UPND.
He alleged that many of the so-called founding members of UKA, who had never previously contested as presidential candidates, had sidelined his party and mistreated its members, treating them like “useless politicians.”
Chanda elaborated on the internal conflicts within UKA, stating, “Apart from blocking some of us from being part of the Council of Presidents, they now organize rallies in the name of UKA to attend themselves while some of us are blocked from attending those rallies.”
He cited the Samfya rally organized by Citizens First (CF) as an example, where the NCP and its leader were allegedly barred from attending for “fraudulent reasons.”
The NCP leader expressed discontent, saying, “As New Congress Party, we find that approach very disrespectful and unacceptable in a coalition that pretends to be one, yet it is a divided house of ‘them’ versus ‘us’.”
Chanda also criticized the UKA leadership for failing to condemn the disrespect shown towards the former President of PF and sixth Republican President, asserting that such behavior was a violation of traditional values and respect for elders.
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“As a party we find this unacceptable and a violation of our traditional values and culture to respect adults and elders,” Chanda said.
Chanda also highlighted a controversial statement made by the Chairman of UKA during a private television discussion, where the Chairman reportedly said, “any member of UKA who joins other alliances shall be expelled.”
Chanda condemned the statement as “undemocratic and irresponsible,” pointing out that UKA had never communicated such rules to its members when they joined.
“Why should UKA start dictating to us on who we should associate with and maybe where and how? For us, this is a red flag and a serious point of departure,” Chanda questioned.
Chanda announced that the New Congress Party would now join the Tonse Alliance, a coalition he described as a “people’s movement,” signaling a new direction for his party.
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