“Nightmares Over HH’s Successor”? A Laughable Statement Unworthy of a Serious Democracy
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
The recent statement by Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa — “I have nightmares over who will succeed President Hakainde Hichilema, he’s raised the bar of leadership too high” — would be hilarious if it weren’t so dangerously delusional. To make such a claim with a straight face, amid Zambia’s deepening economic struggles and political unease, is not only absurd but an outright insult to the intelligence of the Zambian people.
This is not mere overstatement. It reflects something more troubling — a culture of political idolatry that is swiftly replacing reasoned analysis with blind allegiance. In a healthy democracy, leadership is judged by performance, integrity, transparency and service to the public. It is not measured by overblown rhetoric and sycophantic loyalty. Mr. Mweetwa’s comments reveal a dangerous shift from civic responsibility to cult-like devotion.
We must ask the question directly. What has President Hakainde Hichilema truly done to justify the claim that he has “raised the bar” of leadership?
Zambians were promised a new dawn. What they have received instead is spiraling fuel prices, a suffocating cost of living, and a national budget stretched to its limits while State House continues to spend lavishly. The kwacha remains unstable, youth unemployment is rampant, and the sense of economic despair is growing. These are not signs of excellence. They are hallmarks of poor leadership.
At the same time, the democratic space is shrinking. Opposition leaders are increasingly targeted with dubious charges. Journalists work under intimidation. Civil society organizations are operating under a climate of fear, not freedom. Dissent is no longer a democratic right but a punishable offense. Criticizing the President is treated not as civic engagement but as treason. This is not a maturing democracy. It is one in decline.
This environment creates the very type of toxic loyalty that Cornelius Mweetwa now exemplifies. It is an environment where leadership is no longer open to scrutiny but treated as divine. A society where citizens are expected to praise, not question. A nation where asking for better governance is met with accusations of betrayal. This is how authoritarian regimes take root — not with tanks, but with narratives that elevate one man above the institutions meant to check his power.
So when Mr. Mweetwa speaks of having nightmares about who will succeed President Hichilema, we must ask: nightmares for whom? Not for the struggling mother who can no longer afford mealie meal. Not for the unemployed graduate still waiting on promised jobs. Not for the farmer who cannot access affordable inputs. These citizens are not haunted by questions of succession — they are haunted by the daily realities of survival in a failing economy.
Zambia does not need a messiah. It needs capable, humble leaders who understand that public office is not a throne but a platform to serve. Leadership is not about being untouchable. It is about delivering results and strengthening institutions that will endure long after any one individual is gone.
If the bar of leadership has indeed been raised, let it be seen in job creation, currency stability, equitable development, and a robust democratic culture. Let it be felt by the poor, the youth, the marginalized. Let it be proven — not preached.
Until that happens, Mr. Mweetwa’s statement remains not only laughable but dangerously misleading and deeply shameful.
KETTIS, IF REALLY RESEARCHED YOUR ARTICLES YOU WOULD BE HONEST AND FACTUAL.
WHICH COUNTRY ARE YOU DISCUSSING AND WHAT SUBJECT ARE YOU OBJECTING TO.
PLEASE BE FACTUAL YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN A FAT CHEQUE FOR THE JOB YOU ARE DOING, BUT THINK OF THE FUTURE FOR THIS COUNTRY.
ALL CON IS SAYING IS, OPEN YOUR EYES AND START LOOKING AROUND FOR A PERSON THAT CAN FIT INTO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT’S SHOES.
FOR SURE HE HAS RAISED THE BAR SO HIGH THAT IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO POINT AT ONE THAT CAN BE LIKE HIM. THIS IS A FACT.
START WITH SMALL THINGS LIKE;
1. DOES HE DRINK ALCOHOL?
2. DOES HE WOMANIZE?
3. DOES HE SMOKE?
4. DOES HE DANGLE KASAKA KA NDALAMA?
5. DOES HE DESCRIMINATE ON TRIBAL LINES?
6. DOES HE INTERFERE WITH THE JUDICIARY?
7. DOES HE HAVE GOOD MORALS e. t. c.
Thandiwe, sometimes it is better to allow people to dream because that is part of nature, dreaming has no boundary and it is not regulated by any law hence a person can come up with the craziest of dreams without breaking any cyber laws. Having said this, we should all be aware that the highest in terms of hype and popularity that UPND has had was in 2021, from that time onwards, the fortunes have been downwards and not upwards, if any person has dreams of thinking that UPND fortunes in terms of popularity have been upwards, then that person needs someone who repairs dreams to work on him, because it means his dreams, though not regulated are faulty. UPND’s popularity has plummeted both locally and internationally among other world leaders because they may have talked too much and over projected issues. Looking back, I think UPND bigwigs themselves are censuring themselves over having projected too much. BBC reporters would feast on them about the previous promises and the current status of things which have now caused them to claim that they are not God’s as UPND. Once you say too much and it is on record, it is difficult to defend yourself and all you can do is fall back on scripture to talk about the seven years of hunger and the seven years of plentifulness. The problem is that UPND has again started promising for the next term which has not even been granted yet. They will never learn hence nightmares.