SO PRESIDENT HICHILEMA KNEW THE TRAITORS WITHIN ALL ALONG?
The President demonstrated true statesmanship by candidly exposing the intricate web of political compromises that have long plagued our governance landscape. He rightly singled out figures with long standing parliamentary careers dating back to 2006, individuals who, while running on opposition tickets, maintained deep, covert connections with the 2016 – 2021 PF Cabinet.
It is a bitter reality that certain UPND MPs maintained cosy relationships with the very PF ministers responsible for the brutal incarceration of opposition leaders, including President Hichilema himself and many of us. Regrettably, some senior figures had effectively sold out in private, quietly receiving favours, contracts through proxies and guarantees in the run up to the 2021 general election.
It is no exaggeration to state that roughly 40% of those appointed to Cabinet positions ought never to have been there, given their compromised alignments. Their elevation shocked many observers, including us in the UPP. Even before 2021, we publicly warned that President Hichilema was operating in a minefield, as several senior UPND figures in parliament were already working in tandem with PF structures.
These inherited impediments largely explain the friction and bottlenecks of the administration’s first term. A leader of President Hichilema’s calibre and integrity was weighed down by a Cabinet and parliamentary caucus containing elements never fully committed to the reform agenda. Lingering compromises such as the muted response on Forest 27 despite previous firm commitments, stand as clear evidence of how compromised internal resolve can undermine collective policy goals. The President’s anti corruption agenda was sabotaged by such elements.
This situation closely mirrors the early tenure of the late President Levy Mwanawasa, who inherited a compromised legislature and struggled against entrenched interests in his initial fight against corruption. It was only in his second term, after securing full control over candidate adoptions, that his anti corruption agenda truly took flight.
President Hichilema, a genuine, people centered statesman has steadfastly navigated these constraints with remarkable resilience. As the nation approaches the next electoral cycle, renewed internal cohesion will finally pave the way for accelerated national development and the fight against corruption.
The President was right to speak plainly. National loyalty must always supersede opportunistic alliances. Those who abused the trust placed in them must now face a moment of serious self reflection. The UPP remains resolute in its support for a clean, accountable, and effective government that puts Zambia first.
Zambia Forward with Unity and Integrity.
Saviour Chishimba
President
United Progressive People (UPP)
UPND Alliance Partner