The good news is that the 2026 election will not be decided by who shouts loudest about opposition division. This is why the “founder” or “life president” model that dominates many Zambian political parties remains a direct threat to democratic progress. The good news is that the 2026 election will not be decided by who shouts loudest about opposition division. We must distinguish between “alliances of parties” and “alliances of voters.” The electorate is not naïve. Come August 2026, the “weak opposition” mantra will collapse under a greater truth: a determined citizenry cannot be silenced.