🗳️ THE “SPV” STRATEGY: Tonse Alliance Reveals Plan for 2026 Ballot 🇿🇲

As Zambia moves closer to the August 2026 General Elections, political formations are adjusting their strategies to comply with electoral laws while maintaining their political identity. The latest development comes from the Tonse Alliance (Brian Mundubile faction), which has unveiled how it intends to appear on the ballot.

The Legal Background

Earlier this week, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro clarified an important legal position: political alliances cannot contest elections as a single entity unless they are formally registered as a political party with the Registrar of Societies.

This clarification effectively means that any coalition operating as an “alliance” must either:

Register as a political party in its own right; or Use an already registered political party to participate in elections.

This legal technicality may appear minor, but in electoral politics, paperwork and compliance can determine whether a candidate is accepted or disqualified.

Tonse Alliance’s Response: The “SPV” Approach

Alliance President Brian Mundubile has confirmed that Tonse Alliance will not register as a new political party. Instead, the alliance plans to use what he describes as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

What is an SPV in this context?

In simple terms, the alliance will adopt one already registered political party within its coalition to act as the official vehicle for nomination papers submitted to the ECZ.

Legally: The ballot paper will show the name of the registered political party.

Politically: Campaigns, messaging, and public identity will remain under the Tonse Alliance banner.

According to Mundubile, this is a strategic and lawful method designed to meet ECZ requirements while preserving the alliance’s collective identity as a united opposition front.

The Strategic Calculation

The “Alliance model” is not new in Zambian politics. In 2021, the UPND Alliance operated under a coalition framework. However, the technical details of how an alliance is reflected on nomination papers and ballot papers remain critical.

Failure to comply fully with electoral law can result in disqualification — a risk no serious political formation can afford.

The SPV model allows Tonse to:

Avoid the administrative burden of registering a new party.

Maintain unity among coalition partners.

Present a single presidential candidate through an already recognized political structure.

However, the success of this strategy will depend on voter clarity and messaging.

Will It Confuse Voters?

One of the biggest questions is whether this arrangement could create confusion at the polling station.

If voters identify strongly with the “Tonse Alliance” brand but find a different party name on the ballot, will they easily connect the two?

Political branding matters. Symbols matter. Names matter.

The alliance will need a strong civic education and communication strategy to ensure supporters understand exactly which party name represents the Tonse Alliance on the ballot paper.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond Tonse, this development highlights a broader issue in Zambia’s democratic process — the balance between political innovation and strict legal compliance.

Electoral laws are designed to provide order and fairness. At the same time, political coalitions are becoming increasingly common as parties attempt to consolidate support and maximize electoral strength.

The 2026 election may not just test political popularity — it will test strategy, organization, and legal precision.

BalanceHub Asks

Do you think using a “Special Purpose Vehicle” is a smart and strategic.

Or could it create unnecessary confusion for voters on election day?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Follow Balancehub for timely updates, insight, and balance in Zambia.

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