Tonse Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has appointed Gary Nkombo as his Southern Province Campaign Manager, following a meeting with Alick Banda.
A Notable Political Realignment
Brian Mundubile and running mate Makebi Zulu appointed Gary Nkombo, the sitting Mazabuka Central MP and independent parliamentary candidate, as their Southern Province Campaign Manager for the NRPUP/Tonse Alliance ticket. According to reports, Mundubile has since indicated Nkombo could be considered for a ministerial position should he help deliver votes for the alliance in the province.
The appointment marks a striking shift for Nkombo, who served as UPND’s Minister of Local Government and Rural Development from 2021 until his removal in March 2025, and later held the party’s Chairperson of Elections and Campaign role before also departing that position. He has since opted to contest his Mazabuka Central seat as an independent rather than under the UPND banner.
A Public Falling-Out with Hichilema
The move follows public criticism from President Hichilema himself, who has campaigned directly against Nkombo in Mazabuka, describing him as having worked against UPND interests and urging residents not to elect him. Nkombo’s new alignment with the Tonse Alliance in Southern Province adds a high-profile defection to a campaign season already marked by several prominent political realignments ahead of the August 13 election.
