Party structures risk dissolution if five million vote target is missed, says Liswaniso

Party structures risk dissolution if five million vote target is missed, says Liswaniso

A senior United Party for National Development official has warned that provincial and constituency structures failing to deliver five million votes in the August elections could be dissolved.

Gilbert Liswaniso has told party officials across the country that their positions hinge on meeting an ambitious electoral target set by the ruling party ahead of the August general elections.

Speaking on Crown TV’s Spotlight programme on Wednesday, Liswaniso urged ward, constituency and provincial leaders to intensify mobilisation efforts, warning that failure to meet the five million vote threshold would trigger sweeping structural changes within the party.

“The Chairman for Elections has given us a clear target of five million votes,” he said. “If provinces and constituencies do not produce those numbers, they will be dissolved. This is a collective responsibility that requires unity and hard work.”

The five million target was first outlined by President Hakainde Hichilema over the weekend while receiving defectors in Northern Province, where he emphasised the need for a decisive electoral mandate.

Liswaniso said the party had already laid the groundwork through extensive grassroots mobilisation and expressed confidence that the target was achievable. He acknowledged that while the government had made progress in certain areas, gaps remained, which officials must address through continued engagement with voters.

“You do not win elections based on whether people are happy or complaining,” he said. “You win by engaging them, presenting what has been achieved, and asking for another mandate to complete what remains.”

He further clarified that the party had not yet adopted candidates for the upcoming elections, cautioning against individuals falsely claiming endorsement by the President.

“No one has been adopted,” Liswaniso said. “Every aspiring candidate, including ministers, will go through a rigorous selection process to determine their popularity and ability to secure victory.”

He stressed that only candidates capable of winning seats would be endorsed, regardless of their current status within government or the party. High-profile figures such as Jack Mwiimbu and Situmbeko Musokotwane would also undergo the same vetting process.

Liswaniso added that the party’s long-term ambition was to remain in power for more than three decades, suggesting that its electoral strategy was geared towards sustained dominance.

“We are not joking. This is a serious matter,” he said. “We want to govern this country for over 30 years, and that means putting forward candidates who can deliver results.”

He called on party officials at all levels to return to their constituencies and intensify mobilisation efforts, describing the five million vote target as both a challenge and a benchmark for internal accountability.

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