HICHILEMA’S SOUTHERN PROVINCE TOUR DRAWS SHARP CRITICISM FROM OPPOSITION
Lusaka… Monday May 19, 2025 — President Hakainde Hichilema’s ongoing working visit to Southern Province has sparked a wave of criticism from opposition figures, with Socialist Party leader Dr. Fred M’membe questioning the purpose and timing of the trip amid rising economic hardships in the country.
According to Southern Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa, President Hichilema commenced a week-long visit across the province and is expected to officiate at key functions, engage with communities, and attend a major political rally dubbed the “Mother of All Rallies” in Choma on May 23, 2025.
Mr. Nanjuwa told the media that the President would make stops in Choma, Namwala, and Kalomo, where he would interact with residents and assess ongoing developmental projects.
However, in a statement, Dr. M’membe condemned the President for using such visits as a platform for what he described as political posturing and empty rhetoric.
He alleged that the President’s travels were more about self-promotion than tangible action, especially at a time when many citizens were grappling with high living costs and other pressing socio-economic challenges.
Dr. M’membe stated that instead of addressing real issues such as load shedding, rising electricity tariffs, food and fuel prices, and unemployment, the President had chosen to move from place to place delivering “exaggerated claims of accomplishments” and “unfulfilled promises.”
He questioned the sincerity of the so-called community interactions, suggesting that engaging with hungry and frustrated citizens under current conditions was more insulting than helpful.
The opposition leader further criticized the planned Choma rally, stating that people were being transported from across the province to participate in what he contended would be a “staged” gathering meant to project false support.
Dr. M’membe challenged the government to show results on the ground rather than relying on crowd numbers and media headlines.
He accused President Hichilema of prioritizing appearances over governance, asking when the Head of State found time to sit down and address the country’s economic and social issues.
He also warned that Zambians were growing tired of “manipulation and lies,” and hinted that the electorate would express their discontent at the next election.
The President’s tour is scheduled to conclude on May 24, 2025.
I’m sorry to say but Mr. Mmembe sound very confused in his statements. For starters, what has president HH’s visit to southern province got to do with the high cost of living? So according to Mr. Mmembe the president should not move at all because there are challenges in the country? What kind of thinking is that? Secondly, if what he claims that the president has been making empty statements to the public whenever he talks to them, why should it worry Mr. Mmembe? Shouldn’t that be an advantage to him for an easy win? The man is a chief complainant but fails to give any practical solutions to the issues he perpetually complains about.
Where ever the president goes, he is on duty. This is why he is accompanied by advisors and other officials. M’membe work hard organising grassroot structures for your family party if you are to make sense in your utterances and tell Zambians the alternatives to what they have. Kalaba tries to tell Zambians what he will do once elected. Sort out your propaganda machine, they are doing a bad job. Remember age is not on your side, we still have HH up to 2031, and UPND somewhere around 2041, at which time you will be 80 years.