The Resolute Party says confusion within the Tonse Alliance has left 72 parliamentary constituencies without an alliance candidate ahead of Zambia's August general election.
RP president Dr Martin Phiri says his party and Brian Mundubile's National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) had agreed to divide parliamentary constituencies before nominations. Under the arrangement, the Resolute Party would field candidates in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Eastern provinces, while NRPUP would contest the remaining provinces.
However, Dr Phiri says the agreement fell apart when both parties began adopting candidates in some of the same constituencies after nominations opened.
"We were shocked when they started filing candidates in our regions. That's how we ended up with two alliance candidates contesting the same constituency," he said.
According to Dr Phiri, the confusion forced the Resolute Party to field only 46 parliamentary candidates, while NRPUP fielded about 154. Instead of covering every constituency as planned, the alliance ended up competing against itself in some areas while leaving 72 constituencies without any alliance candidate.
He said the alliance leadership later asked candidates who had filed in the wrong constituencies to withdraw, but many declined after spending money on nomination fees and campaign preparations. Some reportedly demanded between K500,000 and K1 million before agreeing to step aside.
Dr Phiri also warned that the dispute has created divisions among alliance members on the ground, with candidates and supporters competing against each other instead of working together.
With the election drawing closer, the disagreement raises fresh questions about coordination within the alliance and whether the remaining differences can be resolved before polling day.