Hon Makebi Zulu’s return to Zambia has not been a quiet homecoming. It has been deliberate, measured, and unmistakably political, the kind of return that echoes the grandmaster’s patience before a decisive move.

From the moment he landed in Lusaka on November 7 alongside his colleague, Hon Richard Musukwa, Hon Makebi Zulu has walked the path once taken by Michael Chilufya Sata and Edgar Chagwa Lungu, a path of listening before leading and building consensus before claiming the stage.

Their first stop was not a rally but a visit to Chimbokaila Prison. There, they stood with those detained under the current political climate: Raphael Nakachinda, Joseph Malanji, Munir Zulu, Fredson Yamba, Kingsley Chanda, and others. “We stand with all our brothers and sisters who have been incarcerated. Freedom is coming soon,” Hon Makebi Zulu said, reaffirming the Patriotic Front’s historic posture as a movement that stands by its own in the face of adversity.

Later that evening, Hon Makebi Zulu and Hon Musukwa called on former Vice President Inonge Mutukwa Wina, seeking the counsel of a woman who helped build the moral spine of the PF in its early days. It was a gesture that carried the discipline of tradition, the young leader returning to sit at the feet of elders before charting his own course.

The days that followed revealed the method in Hon Makebi Zulu’s movement. On November 8, he met Hon Binwell Mpundu of the Ichabaiche Movement and later, Ephraim Shakafuswa. The message was consistent, that unity in the opposition is no longer a suggestion but a national duty. “Unity is key to progress and to giving our people the leadership they deserve,” Hon Makebi Zulu remarked, in language reminiscent of President Sata’s old mantra of working together for all.

By Sunday, Hon Makebi Zulu was seen sharing tea with Ms Mulenga Kapwepwe, daughter of the late Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Zambia’s former Vice President and one of the founding fathers of the Republic. A towering figure in the nation’s political and literary history, Simon Kapwepwe’s legacy lives on through his daughter’s leadership in the arts and cultural space. Their discussion, as Hon Makebi Zulu described it, revolved around prosperity and the collective responsibility to restore Zambia’s national pride.

That same morning, Hon Makebi Zulu made a symbolic visit to Roma Parish Church to replace his voter’s card, reminding citizens that “our vote is our voice.” It was a simple act but deeply political, a reminder that renewal begins with participation.

Later that day, Hon Makebi Zulu met Constitutional Lawyer and State Counsel John Sangwa, a figure whose new citizen movement has stirred conversations across the country. The two discussed constitutionalism, accountability, and the urgent need for a leadership renewal anchored in the rule of law and service to the people. It was a meeting that captured Hon Makebi Zulu’s growing political weight, a lawyer engaging another lawyer, but this time on the national stage where both law and politics converge.

As he explained, these consultations are not driven by personal ambition but by a desire to listen and understand. “Leadership must be rooted in service, not self-interest; in listening, not imposition; and in the restoration of public confidence, not its erosion,” Hon Makebi Zulu said.

On November 10, Hon Makebi Zulu concluded his early engagements with a visit to His Grace Archbishop Alick Banda, the Metropolitan of Lusaka. Once again, the message was continuity through inclusion. Hon Makebi Zulu thanked the Archbishop for his guidance and reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue with the church, a cornerstone of the PF’s early success under President Lungu.

Then came the defining move, Hon Makebi Zulu’s official filing for the Patriotic Front presidency. It was not a sudden leap but the culmination of a week-long choreography of diplomacy, consultation, and statesmanship. His tone throughout has been consistent, calm, intelligent, and inclusive. His moves have been quiet but firm, the steps of a man who knows the board and the stakes before the next play.

What is emerging is a rebranded Patriotic Front, one that carries forward the legacy of Sata’s grassroots connection and Lungu’s inclusive politics, now refined with Hon Makebi Zulu’s professional sharpness and generational appeal. His approach embodies a new PF doctrine of wider consultation, broader inclusion, and leaving no one behind.

If this first week back in Zambia is anything to go by, Hon Makebi Zulu has not just returned, he has resumed the unfinished story of a movement that still believes in the power of unity, service, and faith in the Zambian people.