Fellow Countrymen, Women, and the Youth.

Over the past few days, our country has been plunged into uncertainty following the revelations and subsequent action taken by the United States Government through its Ambassador, His Excellency Michael Gonzales regarding the termination of aid to Zambia’s health sector. These revelations make very sad reading.

Today, Zambia’s health sector faces enormous challenges in combating the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and the decision by the U.S. Government serves as a damning indictment, a reminder that the goodwill of our cooperating partners must never be taken for granted, or abused.

From the days of UNIP through MMD, and then to us the Patriotic Front (PF),  both under the leadership of our founding father, the late President Michael Chilufya Sata, and subsequently under my leadership, we prioritized strong cooperation with the United States and other partners. Through programs such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund, we confronted the HIV/AIDS pandemic with the seriousness it deserved.

This collaboration saw millions of our people living with HIV gain access to lifesaving ARVs drugs that saved lives and significantly improved the quality of life for our people. While Tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge, our partnership with donors led to the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases and the implementation of the “Test and Treat” approach a powerful tool in prevention and control.

Our robust fight against Malaria, which is very high among young children, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised, brought us to the verge of the Malaria Elimination Phase. Further, as part of our decentralisation strategy, we established the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) to streamline the procurement and distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies across the country.

Fellow Zambians, no government is without fault, but the key in all our efforts was to keep a keen eye on the levels of corruption in the supply chain system of all drugs, otherwise we would not have achieved the policy and implementation targets I have outlined.

In contrast, the shocking scale of theft and corruption, as highlighted by Ambassador Gonzales, is a slap in the face to every Zambian because it is the ordinary citizen who will now suffer due to the potential drug shortages this aid withdrawal will cause. As the saying goes, “If you’re not infected, you’re affected.”

Let me now address my brother, Mr Hakainde Hichilema. Your government has consistently refused to accept responsibility for any wrongdoing, choosing instead to blame the PF or all past administrations. But this is not a time for finger-pointing. Our people will suffer the consequences. The blame game helps no one. The period in question, as clearly stated by Ambassador Gonzales, spans from late 2021 to 2023 squarely under your tenure and you, good sir, must take responsibility.

This careless and inept handling of national affairs has now resulted in the U.S. imposing sanctions undermining our credibility and damaging vital relationships. It is a national embarrassment that casts doubt on our ability to govern ourselves and protect the lives of our people.

Zambians detest pilferage, corruption, and incompetence. But for your government to justify, ignore, or shamelessly downplay the very serious revelations made by Ambassador Gonzales is an insult to over 19 million citizens who entrusted you with power. Despite your promised fight against corruption, the vice has not stopped, but worsened under your watch. Where once the long queues of people I witnessed at our clinics receiving ARVs gave me hope, what might lie ahead for our people if these queues shrink, fills me with despair.

My humble request to you my brother, is to act in the present, instead of dwelling on the past.

I call on all citizens to remain united, hopeful, and vigilant. This is not the first time we have faced a national crisis, and it will not be the last. But the power to correct this trajectory lies with us the people of Zambia.

Let every Zambian, now see that those that had promised to do better, those that had called us and continue to call us names, have failed. In fact, they have not only failed to do as they promised but that they have also done worse than us.

As we collectively forge a more united Zambia, one at peace with herself and other nations, let us remain humble, let us always seek the face of God and seek his guidance.

Nothing lasts forever. This misfortune, this suffering you are now experiencing because of the high cost of living, because of deceit and failure of the UPND government, this excruciating pain that you feel, is only a passing phase. Suffering might endure for a while but peace and joy will soon come.

To the American people, we remain grateful for the long-standing support you continue to provide across various sectors. We appreciate that your doors remain open for future engagement.

As we strive for a more united Zambia, one at peace with itself and with the international community, let us remain humble, let us seek God’s face, and let us pray for wisdom and healing.

May God bless our great nation.

Edgar Chagwa Lungu
Sixth President of Zambia
Chairman of the Tonse Alliance,
2026 Presidential Candidate – Tonse Alliance

Reality Check: Leadership Is No Walk in the Park, Mr. President

By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma

I recently came across a headline in News Diggers! quoting President Hakainde Hichilema saying, “Leadership is hard.” And I couldn’t help but pause and reflect: finally, a moment of honesty.

For years, Mr. President, you portrayed leadership as a straightforward task: a matter of discipline, common sense, and a bit of economic strategy. From the opposition bench, you harshly criticized every policy, every decision, and every move of your predecessor, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. In your eyes, nothing President Lungu did was ever right, even policies and programs that clearly benefited citizens. You positioned yourself as the man with all the answers. To you, everything was broken, and only you could fix it.

But now, nearly four years into your presidency, you finally admit, “Leadership is hard.”

Yes, Mr. President, it is. And the people of Zambia have always known that. That is why they gave you their vote. Not because they believed you were flawless, but because you convinced them you understood the magnitude of the office. You promised transformation. You promised delivery. You promised better.

Instead, what they have received is a painful reality check. One that now leaves many Zambians questioning whether you were ever ready for this responsibility at all.

Let us call it what it is. Compared to President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, whom you once vilified for everything, the contrast today is glaring. Under the previous administration, the cost of living, while not perfect, was bearable. Fuel prices were manageable. Load-shedding was under control. The Cancer Diseases Hospital was operational. Major infrastructure projects were visible across the country: roads, bridges, ultra-modern bus stations, mini-hospitals, military housing, airports, and schools. Yes, borrowing occurred, but citizens could point to where the money went. They could see the development with their own eyes.

Today, your government has also borrowed even more than what the previous government borrowed in its first four years in power. Yet there is little to show for it. Instead of highways, Zambians are seeing the commissioning of unfished toilets, substandard drainage systems and bridges, septic tanks, and gates paraded as milestones. Is that the vision of development you promised? Every capital project you commission today is something your predecessor left nearly 80 percent complete. Yet you want to take full credit as if you initiated them from scratch. You ignore the foundation that was already in place, and we wonder why you insist on painting a false picture when the information is in the public domain.

Yes, we understand that government is about continuity. But acknowledging the efforts of your predecessor is important. The Kafulafuta Dam in Copperbelt, for example, was already 80 percent complete, yet you sought to portray it otherwise. The Kazungula Bridge was even commissioned by your predecessor, and yet you still wanted to claim it as your own achievement. How, Mr. President? Just how?

What is even more alarming is the surge in corruption, an issue you loudly campaigned against. The recent scandal in the Ministry of Health, exposed by a U.S. diplomat, has left many wondering where your anti-corruption crusade has disappeared to. The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) report highlights disturbing trends in financial misconduct, yet there is no clear accountability. The questionable procurement of ambulances at inflated prices—ambulances that have still not been delivered—further exposes the cracks in your administration’s integrity. And through all this, your silence grows louder.

Even more shocking was the discovery of 60 plus  containers of medicine and medical supplies kept at a private residence for seven months while hospitals and clinics across the country were in desperate need. Instead of dismissing the minister responsible, you transferred her to another portfolio. Accountability, it seems, is optional in your government, especially when it involves those in your inner circle.

You shield your ministers and officials from investigations into illegalities. Case in point: State House operatives allegedly mentioned in the abduction ordeal of Independent MP for Petauke Central, Hon. JJ Banda, have not been investigated. Even after leaked audios surfaced of two Permanent Secretaries, Thabo Kawana and Dickson Matembo, along with the Minister of Lands Sylvia Masebo coercing Hon. Banda to exonerate his abductors, no inquiry has been launched. How can you preach rule of law when impunity is practiced at the highest levels?

This is not a farm, Mr. President. This is a republic.

Managing livestock and harvesting maize may teach operational efficiency, but it does not prepare one to lead a nation battling economic challenges. Zambia needed a leader who understood the complexity and seriousness of this role. Not one who ridiculed good policies from the past, only to fail at producing better ones.

And what happened to your promises on democracy and the rule of law? You assured the nation that you would uphold constitutional values and protect civil liberties. Yet what we see instead is the weaponization of law. The Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, which you vehemently opposed in opposition, has not only been retained, it has been strengthened under your leadership. You promised to repeal it. Now it seems you are using it to silence dissent and intimidate critics. Is that your intention?

Even the Constitution, which you swore to uphold, is being sidelined. Take the Mopani deal, where 51 percent of government shares were transferred to an investor without parliamentary approval. This is not just undemocratic; it is unconstitutional. Or consider the appointment of the Auditor General in an acting capacity, a man who is constitutionally overage for the position. These are not trivial oversights. They are direct violations of the very document that legitimizes your authority.

Your recent admission confirms what many suspected all along: the job is far more complex than your campaign rhetoric allowed. The slogans are empty. The results are missing. The hope is fading.

But confessions are not leadership. Words are not progress. Zambians are tired of speeches. They want solutions. They want outcomes. They want the leadership you promised: bold, honest, and transformative.

You fought for this office. You spent years demanding this opportunity. Now that you hold it, the people deserve more than rhetoric. They deserve action. They deserve a president who leads, not one who hides behind press conferences and endless blame games.

Time is running out. Trust is evaporating. The legacy you once envisioned is slipping through your fingers.

So now that you have admitted leadership is hard, the question remains: will you rise to meet the challenge, or will you continue to fall back on the same excuses you once condemned?

Zambia does not need a critic in State House. It needs a president who delivers.

DENMARK BASED LEGAL SCHOLAR KAKONDE ENDORSES HARRY KALABA

We fully support President Saboi’s statement that President Harry Kalaba is one of the most sellable political candidates in Zambia today. In the 2021 general elections as per the electoral commission of Zambia results, he came out third despite limited resources clearly demonstrating his national appeal. With the current shifts in the political landscape, he stands an even better chance to win the presidency as he has been Consistent with talking for the masses.

President Kalaba is a tested and proven leader. His service spans both civil and political spheres, having worked in the Ministry of Works and Supply, Ministry of Lands, and Cabinet Office. He later served as Member of Parliament for Bahati, Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Minister of Lands and Environmental Protection, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As MP for Bahati, he served with dedication ensuring that key inputs were delivered to farmers, pushing for better road accessibility, and consistently representing his constituents with integrity. While an MP’s powers are limited by resources and scope, he did his best to uplift the constituency.

Zambia needs a leader who is not a product of trial and error, but one who understands governance and delivers results. We therefore appeal to all Zambians to rally behind President Kalaba and give him the necessary support to lead the country into a better future.

President Kalaba has also never shown hatred to his aggressors who sponsored people to destroy his earlier party.

Misheck Kakonde
Legal scholar and political scientist

Is It True That Leadership Is Hard? A Nation Watches from the Stands

By Dr Lawrence Mwelwa

There’s a thrill in watching football from the grandstands. From the safety of your seat, you shout instructions, predict plays, and see every mistake with perfect clarity. From that vantage point, it’s easy to score goals, defend flawlessly, and even substitute players with ease. But step onto the pitch and reality bites—the game changes. The crowd is deafening, the pressure intense, and the ball is never quite where you need it.

President Hakainde Hichilema, once Zambia’s loudest critic from the opposition benches, now finds himself not in the stands but squarely in the centre of the pitch. And just recently, he admitted what many in leadership dare not say: “Leadership is not easy; it’s assumed to be easy from a distance but it’s pretty challenging.”

That confession, made at a church event where he donated K200,000 to the Mushili Central SDA Church, was perhaps the most honest statement he has made since taking office. It was a rare moment of humility in a presidency that began with bold declarations and high expectations.

In African tradition, we say “umufwi wakwashima tauchimfya bulwi”—a borrowed spear cannot win a war. President Hichilema inherited a nation wounded by debt, patronage, and distrust. He came bearing promises, the spear of change, and the shield of economic reform. But now, in the heat of governance, he’s learning—sometimes painfully—that leading a nation requires more than intelligence; it demands wisdom, patience, and courage.

Since stepping into State House, he has encountered firestorms his predecessors knew too well. His government was shaken when the United States slashed $50 million in annual health aid over systemic theft of donated medical supplies. Despite launching forensic audits and sanctioning some officials, the scandal dented his administration’s image. Then came the damning accusations from a former Finance Ministry official who claimed retaliation after exposing financial misconduct—raising questions about whether the anti-corruption banner was a political slogan or a genuine commitment. Even stranger, a witchcraft trial unfolded after two men were arrested for allegedly trying to harm the president through supernatural means, thrusting Zambia into a legal and cultural crossroad.

The mining sector, once seen as a lever for economic revival, became a crucible of controversy. In Chembe, Luapula Province, illegal sugilite mining allegedly involved high-ranking figures, yet most of the accused walked free citing lack of evidence. At Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, a private jet from Egypt landed with counterfeit gold, cash, and firearms—unleashing a national scandal with international tentacles.

Glencore, the global mining giant, was accused of funneling money to political actors before selling its stake in Mopani Copper Mines, and a toxic dam collapse at a Chinese-owned mine spilled waste into the Kafue River, affecting hundreds of thousands of Zambians. Amid all this, critics claimed that proposed mining reforms would only strengthen elite capture.

Elsewhere, politics turned bitter. The abduction of former MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda gripped the nation after he claimed he had been tortured by state agents seeking information about opposition figures. While the courts dismissed his claims due to non-appearance, the controversy remained alive. In sports, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) fell into disrepute amid allegations that President Andrew Kamanga manipulated election rules to stay in power. Meanwhile, public trust eroded as Transparency International’s Bribe Payers Index painted a bleak picture of the police, local councils, and health systems.

And so we return to the question: is leadership truly hard? The honest answer is yes. As Africans say, “Even the chief’s stool is not free of thorns.” President Hichilema has discovered that the throne may come with applause, but it also carries responsibility that no advisor, no economist, no strategist can shoulder alone. “When the music changes, so must the dance,” says another proverb. He must adapt, not as a man with all the answers, but as a leader who is willing to listen—even to critics.

Jesus said, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” But HH judged. He judged his predecessors harshly. Now that he wears the crown, he must wear it with the grace to acknowledge failure, embrace criticism, and build bridges—even with those he once opposed. Leadership is not theatre. It is not prophecy. It is not academic theory. It is a long, hard walk through fire—with the nation watching.

Play the game, Mr. President. But never forget: even the finest striker must sometimes pass the ball.
#zambianwhistleblower #ZWB