A CHAOTIC SCENE IN CHINGOLA – A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE STATE AND THE PARTY
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
Mafken FM Radio and Television
Date:08-11-2025
The unsettling images from Chingola, where a public rally of His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema was violently disrupted by a group of unruly youths, demand more than just condemnation. They demand deep introspection from the very institutions tasked with ensuring stability and political order.
While political opposition is a cornerstone of our democracy, violence and chaos are its antithesis. This incident, however, reveals a series of alarming failures that originate not from the political fringes, but from within the state and the ruling party itself.
Firstly, the intelligence lapse is profound and unacceptable. The primary function of any national intelligence apparatus is to foresee and forestall threats to public order and the safety of key figures. The fact that this disruption was not identified and neutralized before it unfolded in front of the President points to a critical failure. It begs the question: where were our intelligence services?
The natality of their performance in Chingola suggests either a dangerous disconnect from the grassroots realities or a complacency that has set in, believing the political environment to be universally friendly. A nation’s security is only as strong as its intelligence, and today, that foundation appears to have been worryingly porous.
Secondly, the UPND structures on the Copperbelt led by Mr Matambo must do serious soul searching. A successful political machine is built not just on rallies, but on its ability to read the political temperature on the ground. The failure of the local party machinery to sense the brewing discontent, or the presence of organized elements intent on causing mayhem, is a significant political miscalculation.
The party must ask itself tough questions about its engagement at the grassroots level. Has it become deaf to the murmurs of dissent within its own stronghold? Effective politics requires listening as much as it requires speaking; the Copperbelt structures appear to have failed in this basic tenet, leaving their own President exposed to a volatile situation they should have anticipated.
Finally, the poor performance and lack of preparedness of the presidential security detail were startling to witness. The sight of a security officer resorting to using a chair as a shield against a hail of stones is an indelible image of a unit caught completely off-guard. This was not a highly sophisticated attack; it was a basic breach of public order.
The security detail’s response appeared reactive, disorganized, and tragically ill-equipped for a scenario that should be at the core of their training. The President’s safety is non-negotiable, and the evident lack of contingency plans and appropriate crowd control measures represents a dereliction of duty that must be addressed with immediate and decisive action.
In conclusion, the Chingola incident is a stark wake up call. It is a tripartite failure: of state intelligence to foresee, of party structures to sense, and of personal security to protect.
For the sake of our nation’s stability and the safety of its leaders, especially a beloved president like Hakainde Hichilema a comprehensive investigation must be launched. Heads must roll, strategies must be overhauled, and a new standard of vigilance and preparedness must be established. The people of Zambia deserve better and so does the Office of the President.
Mafken FM
This is how rotten our media and governance systems have become. They are all worried about the wellbeing of one person, Hakainde. What about the millions of suffering citizens? Politicians need to learn to put citizens first. People are suffering while politicians are becoming richer and more corrupt, untouchables. Hakainde is a servant of the people, a kaboyi. We are his bosses. And in Chingola, he was reminded of that relationship. He will do well to remember that. People can not be bought via a ka 10 million kwacha donation. Let him take that donation to SDA.
REJECT TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION AND OPPRESSION.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
Waya sana you foolish monkey! Your insults are nauseating and we will now move in and deal with you most effectively! We have observed your uncouth language and tirades you have been hurling which are unacceptable. Your insults are not and cannot be democracy or part of it.
In PF criminals we saw real tribalism starting from cabinet, high commission, ambassadors, and other government departments please bring real issues . For the uncultured/congo guys from chingola nothing they will do apart from being arrested for their misbehaving,we can not have only one tribal out of 74 tribals troubling people in Zambia even were they came from in GOMA very is total nonsense.
Ba Lizard which tribe is troubling people in Zambia according your stereotyped thinking?
The incident in Chingola has nothing to do with any particular tribe but perceived discontent and organised crime. You have junkies holding communities to ransom and if this problem is not nipped in the bud, it will mature into fully fledged criminal gangs capable of compromising our weak police and wreaking even further and worse havoc on communities. Jerabos are similarly the genesis of organised criminal gangs. Remember Youngson and Chile in Kitwe and their antics during the MMD and PF eras?
This is happening in South Africa and happened in Colombia (Pablo Escobar) and Mexico (El Chapo). We need to act before it is too late.
I have noticed that there are some contributors on this forum who seem to have a prejudiced view regarding the Bemba speaking block. These are dangerous elements who must desist from spewing their tribal hatred or the law must visit them.
Our genuine comment to the episode of events is that this is predicated on eletricity. The Government has to import electricity to improve the availabilty of power to people.
Indeed there is need for a reality Check, and self Introspection by the UPND on how they have been conducting it’s politics from 2021.
Look at the following;
– Mealie Meal is too Expensive – Kashite Roller Meal
– Load Shedding is too much – Kashite Solar
– The Cost of Living is too high – You are too Lazy, used to Tantameni. Start farming.
– The way Hakainde is running the country is not okay – Fimba Upoke
– Key Appointments skewed to one Region – It’s our time
– The Arrests of Zambians over flimsy cases of hate speech, Sedition, is just too much – Those are Criminals
– Hakainde has destroyed our Democractic Institutions, and multi party democracy – you have envy , Bitterness and Hate for him.
– People are suffering and failing to make ends meet – Imita Ufole
– The Constitutional Amendment Process is Flawed – Fimba Upoke
– The Voter Registration in other Areas is not being done well, while in Southern Province, it’s running smoothly – That’s Tribalism and Hate Speech.
and so many other cars.
That is the UPND for you. Arrogance, Stubbornness, Insulting you name it. They are so detached from reality and think the governed are fools, imbeciles , irrelevant in national discourse.
The Great Leader is above reproach, is all wise, Intelligent, Smart – the greatest thing to have happened in Zambia since Independence, and the best in Africa! No one should question him on anything.
While it’s not right for “Khwenu Confetti” to be falling on anyone let alone the Great one,
Let the Praise Zealots for once start thinking. Unhinged Praise destroys Leaders and Countries.
Thank you
Cont’
Cars – Cases ( Typo )
I haven’t even talked about the insults against the Bemba speaking people, the Poverty of the Mind , if I raise this issue, then am being Tribal and hateful of the Insulting group!