🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Kambwili Says Hichilema’s Five Election Losses Were God’s Rejection
Former Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili has argued that President Hakainde Hichilema’s five unsuccessful attempts at the presidency before his 2021 victory were evidence that God had not initially chosen him to govern Zambia.
Speaking during a live broadcast on his Facebook page, Kambwili cited Hichilema’s defeats in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, arguing that repeatedly losing presidential elections carried a spiritual meaning.
“If a person loses elections five times, it only shows that God did not bless him to lead a country. God did not choose him to lead the country,” Kambwili said.
He nevertheless acknowledged that dissatisfaction with the previous government contributed to Hichilema’s eventual victory in 2021, saying Zambians had become frustrated and decided to give the UPND leader an opportunity to govern. Kambwili further invoked biblical examples in arguing that God can permit people to choose leaders even when, in his interpretation, such leaders were not originally divinely ordained.
Kambwili also turned his criticism towards the President’s economic record, alleging that Hichilema’s administration has pursued policies favouring wealthy people and foreign interests rather than poorer Zambians.
“To run a country, you must love the people. One must love the poor and have mercy on those who are suffering. But this man does not love the poor,” he said.
He claimed international praise for Hichilema’s administration was not reflected in the experiences of ordinary Zambians, while maintaining that his criticism should not be interpreted as personal hatred towards the President.
“We do not hate Hakainde Hichilema. He is our President, and we respect him as President of the Republic of Zambia. People have turned against Hichilema because of his own actions,” Kambwili said.
Kambwili’s assertion that Hichilema’s previous electoral defeats amounted to divine rejection is a political and religious interpretation, not a claim that can be independently verified. Hichilema eventually won the presidency in 2021 on his sixth attempt.
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