NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has alleged that snipers were deployed to target members of his party, claiming that the teargassing of his Mongu rally was meant to provide cover for an attack.

The allegations come after police dispersed an NRPUP campaign rally in Mongu, Western Province, using teargas.

Speaking after the incident, Mundubile questioned who the alleged snipers had been sent to kill, insisting that the party would not be intimidated from continuing its campaign.

“Barotseland needs development and not snipers that have been sponsored to follow us around. We are aware, countrymen and women, the drama, the fanfare of teargas was just the tip of the iceberg. We had snipers in that group. The question is, who do they want to kill? It is unprecedented and it has never happened before. If there was any wrongdoing, we would have been told by any senior police officer. They would have approached the vice chair of the party and we would have agreed on something. But we were in the middle of the rally and they decided to fire teargas. Yet we knew it was just a cover, they were trying to give space to the snipers to take down some individuals that they have chosen. But we have a message for President Hichilema: we are not afraid. We are standing here firmly to defend the Zambian people. Ours is to defend the Zambian people. We have put our lives on the line for the Zambian people, and we are not withdrawing from this campaign. We are proceeding with our campaigns,” he said.

Earlier, Mundubile said that once elected, he would address the high poverty levels and underdevelopment in Barotseland.

He added that he would also address the Barotse Agreement of 1964, saying it had remained unresolved for a long time.

“We recognize that the Barotse Agreement of 1964 remains a long-standing historical national question. If left unresolved, it will continue to affect our national unity and weigh on our conscience as a nation. When elected as President of this country, my administration commits to genuine dialogue with the Barotse Royal Establishment. The engagement will be conducted within a mutually agreed framework of rules and will resolve this matter with dignity, fairness and in the spirit of One Zambia, One Nation. As part of my commitment to uphold constitutional freedoms, the discussion of the Barotse Agreement of 1964 will be declared alive. No citizen shall be arrested solely for discussing the Barotse Agreement,” said Mundubile.

Meanwhile, Barotseland Royal Establishment Ngambela Mukela Manyando said education in the area must be critically addressed, stating that improving the sector would help reduce poverty.

“We welcome you and your team to Barotseland. We are impressed that you have addressed the most important issues in the area, such as education and poverty levels. It is good that you are aware of the fact that Barotseland is poverty-stricken, and this poverty is a result of a number of factors. It is evident that our road network is nothing to talk about. Successive governments have promised the same, but nothing has been done. Equally, our education system has embarrassingly gone down from the top in 1964 to the bottom in 2026. We are very embarrassed by this. Yes, more schools will be needed so that we catch up with the rest of the country. So you are welcome, and feel free to talk to the people here,” said Ngambela Manyando.