ANDYFORD BANDA TO CONTEST 2026 PRESIDENTIAL POLLS

The leader of the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) has officially confirmed he will contest the 2026 general elections, marking his third appearance on the ballot after previous bids in 2016 and 2021. In both elections, Banda placed fourth, first out of nine candidates, then out of sixteen - signalling a consistent, though still growing, political footprint. 

Banda first entered the race in 2016 at just 35 years old, positioning himself as a youthful challenger with an economic reform agenda. Now, nearly a decade later, he says the mission remains unfinished but more urgent than ever. “This time, it’s time for Zambia,” reads PAC’s 2026 campaign slogan, a phrase that captures the party’s renewed push to prioritize local empowerment over what it describes as foreign economic dominance. 

 At the core of Banda’s campaign is a strong critique of Zambia’s economic structure. He argues that key sectors of the economy are largely controlled by foreign interests, leaving local entrepreneurs and workers sidelined. His solution is to deliberate restructuring of policies to ensure Zambians take center stage in their own economy particularly in businesses that can be locally owned and managed. The PAC leader is no stranger to opposition politics. 

Since founding the party on January 10, 2016, Banda has spent over ten years building political experience, including participating in multiple by-elections across the country. His re-election as party president at the PAC convention in September 2025 solidified his position as the party’s torchbearer for 2026. 

In his statement, Banda also taps into Zambia’s liberation history, invoking the ideals of the country’s founding fathers and positioning his campaign as a continuation of that struggle this time, against economic dependency rather than colonial rule. 

 He further argues that many current leaders have drifted away from those ideals, accusing them of “auctioning” the country’s sovereignty and resources to foreign powers. His campaign promises an inclusive governance system that places citizens’ interests above political convenience. 

Banda will be among the few candidates in Zambia’s recent political history to contest the presidency three times outside of Hakainde Hichilema, who ultimately secured victory after six attempts. 

JUST TO UNLOCK YOUR MIND 

 In 2021 general elections, Andyford scored a nationwide total of 19,937 (0.40%). He was 4th behind, Hichilema, Lungu, and Kalaba. And ahead of 12 candidates, among them Socialist party Fred M’membe. 

Away from polictics, Banda is also an author. His book, Economic Systems Dismantling - Why Zambia Can Be a Model for African Transformation, explores the long-term impact of colonial economic systems on Africa and outlines his vision for dismantling them in favour of local empowerment.

Although no one knows someone's destiny, Banda is likely to be unsuccessful again as president Hichilema is much likely to retain the presidency. 

[Brave Heart News  | UnlockingMinds]