PATRIOTISM IS NOT BLIND LOYALTY: MAXWELL CHONGU, STOP CONFUSING THE PRESIDENT WITH THE REPUBLIC!
Maxwell Chongu, with all due respect, your argument is a classic example of confusing the defence of a sitting President with the defence of a sovereign nation. Zambia is bigger than President Hakainde Hichilema, and patriotism demands that we defend the Republic, its Constitution, its people, and democratic principles not blindly protect an individual from criticism.
You insist that former Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama must shut up because his statements allegedly threaten Zambia’s image and investment prospects. But the fundamental question is this. Why are you more offended by criticism from a former foreign head of state than by the concerns, grievances, and suffering of Zambian citizens under the government you are so eager to defend?
Is patriotism now measured by how loudly one defends the President, regardless of what happens to the citizens he swore to serve?
Let us be clear. Zambia’s sovereignty is not a presidential privilege. It belongs to the Zambian people. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and no President is above criticism. If Mr Ian Khama has made statements that are inaccurate or unjustified, challenge them with facts. But demanding that he shut up while invoking patriotism is not an argument, it is an attempt to substitute political loyalty for reasoned debate.
You speak about the procedures available within SADC for addressing disputes. Fair enough. But where is it written that a former head of state must remain silent whenever he expresses concerns about developments in another country? Diplomatic channels may be important, but their existence does not automatically render every public statement illegitimate. The substance of the criticism must be examined before anyone rushes to condemn the person making it.
NOW, MAXWELL, LET US TALK ABOUT THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE CONVENIENTLY LEFT OUT OF YOUR DEFINITION OF PATRIOTISM.
What do you say about the death of Mutotwe Kafwaya on 14 August 2026, which has raised serious concerns and demands for accountability? Why should Zambians not demand credible investigations, transparency, and justice? Why should the public not insist on clear answers about such a grave matter?
A citizen’s life cannot be less important than a President’s public image. If you can mobilise yourself to defend the reputation of the Head of State, surely you should be equally concerned about defending the right to life and demanding justice.
What kind of patriotism defends the image of those in power but appears indifferent when citizens demand accountability?
And what is your position on Brian Mundubile and other opposition figures facing legal and political challenges? Have you exhausted your energy defending the President to the extent that you have no time to question the circumstances surrounding your political opponents?
Their cases must be examined individually, and the law must take its course. However, Zambians have every right to question whether due process is being respected, whether the law is being applied consistently, and whether political opponents are receiving equal treatment before the law.
We must never normalise the detention, prosecution, or restriction of political opponents without scrutinising the legal grounds and procedures involved. Allegations of political persecution must be assessed against evidence, but neither should they be dismissed simply because acknowledging them might inconvenience the ruling establishment.
Maxwell, here is where your argument becomes particularly troubling. You are quick to invoke national sovereignty when a foreign former President criticises Hakainde Hichilema, yet where is that same energy when Zambians raise concerns about governance, political intolerance, democratic freedoms, and accountability?
Is your patriotism consistent, or does it become selective whenever the interests of your preferred political camp or your stomach are at stake?
Let us also remember the 13 August 2026 elections. Zambians witnessed a consequential political contest, and any credible concerns about the electoral process deserve proper scrutiny. Supporting the opposition does not make someone unpatriotic, just as supporting the ruling party does not automatically make someone a patriot.
Democracy was never designed to turn citizens into spectators while those in power exercise authority without scrutiny. It exists precisely to ensure that power is questioned, institutions remain accountable, and citizens can demand better without being branded enemies of the state.
MAXWELL, THE PROBLEM WITH MAKING POLITICS YOUR MEANS OF SURVIVAL IS THAT YOU CAN EASILY LOSE YOUR PRINCIPLES WHILE TRYING TO PRESERVE YOUR POLITICAL RELEVANCE.
When one’s political survival depends on pleasing those in power, the temptation is to defend the indefensible, condemn every critic of the establishment, and remain conveniently silent about the failures and controversies of one’s own political camp.
That is precisely why consistency matters in public discourse.
Instead of spending all your energy demanding that Seretse Khama Ian Khama shut up, why not address the concerns surrounding Brian Mundubile and other opposition figures? Why not interrogate the actions of the political team you support with the same enthusiasm you reserve for defending the President?
Why is your voice so loud when the President is criticised but seemingly less forceful when questions are directed at the administration you support?
A person cannot claim to be a fearless defender of patriotism while behaving like a chameleon, changing colours depending on which political direction the wind is blowing.
Maxwell, wise up! Politics should be about principles, accountability, and service to the people not about changing one’s position to remain in the good books of those who hold power.
There is nothing wrong with supporting President Hichilema. That is your democratic right. But there is everything wrong with attempting to monopolise patriotism and suggesting that those who criticise his administration are betraying Zambia.
If you genuinely believe in national sovereignty, then defend the sovereignty of the people as well as the dignity of the office of President. If you believe in democracy, defend the rights of those who disagree with your preferred political camp. And if you believe in justice, demand it consistently, regardless of the political identity of the victim or accused.
A well-meaning Zambian understands that the President is not Zambia, the ruling party is not the Republic, and the opposition is not the enemy of the nation.
If you are genuinely concerned about Zambia’s international reputation, advocate for credible institutions, respect for human rights, the rule of law, political tolerance, and accountability. These are the foundations upon which a country’s reputation and investor confidence are built not the suppression of uncomfortable criticism.
Investors are interested in more than political slogans. They look for stability, predictable laws, independent institutions, respect for contracts, public safety, and confidence that disputes will be resolved fairly. A country strengthens its international standing when it confronts legitimate concerns transparently, not when its defenders demand silence from critics.
Finally, Maxwell Chongu, it is time to state your political position honestly instead of hiding behind the curtains of patriotism.
Are you defending Zambia, or are you simply defending the political establishment you support?
There is a difference, and the Zambian people deserve to know which side of that distinction you stand on.
Defen the President if you so wish. But do not demand that the rest of us surrender our conscience in the name of patriotism.
Zambia can survive criticism. What it cannot afford is a political culture in which the President’s image is treated as more sacred than the lives, liberties, and constitutional rights of the people.
PATRIOTISM IS NOT THE ART OF PROTECTING THOSE IN POWER. IT IS THE COURAGE TO HOLD POWER ACCOUNTABLE, EVEN WHEN THE TRUTH IS POLITICALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
Maxwell Chongu, wise up, be consistent, and stop confusing loyalty to a political leader with loyalty to the Republic.
ZAMBIA BELONGS TO ITS PEOPLE not to any President, political party, or group of self-appointed guardians of patriotism.
Abraham Simpamba
Together We Can
Ichalo Bantu!