STATEMENT CALLING ON PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA TO REIN IN CARELESS CALLS FOR ZAMBIA TO WITHDRAW FROM THE UNITED NATIONS
Issued by: Stanley Mhango, MCC
Fellow Zambians,
I wish to express deep concern and condemn in the strongest terms the careless statements from certain sections of the UPND advocating for Zambia’s withdrawal from the United Nations, following the UN’s expression of concern regarding the 2026 General Elections.
While the UPND Government has the right to respond to any international observation, threatening to walk away from 60 years of multilateral cooperation is reckless and not in Zambia’s national interest.
*The Importance of International Relations*
Zambia’s strength has always been its diplomacy. Since 1964, we have used the UN and other international platforms to punch above our weight — to secure debt relief, attract development funding, contribute to peacekeeping, and protect the rights of small nations. Isolating ourselves because of political disagreements weakens that voice.
*We have seen what happens when funding is withdrawn*
The recent USAID program cuts and reviews already showed us the pain.
1. *Health*: Delays in ARV deliveries, TB outreach, and maternal health programs run by USAID partners.
2. *Education*: Scaling back of literacy programs and girls’ education support in rural schools.
3. *Food Security*: Delays in drought response food aid to Southern and Western provinces in 2024.
That was _one_ bilateral donor pulling back. A withdrawal from the *UN* would be far worse, because it affects the entire system.
*What Zambia stands to lose if we withdraw from the UN:*
1. *Development Funding*: Hundreds of millions in grants from *UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA* for school feeding, vaccines, HIV/TB/Malaria, and early learning projects like *ZEEL*.
2. *Peacekeeping*: Recall of Zambian troops and loss of training, experience, and allowances for our defense forces.
3. *Humanitarian Response*: WFP and UNHCR support during floods, droughts, and for refugees in Meheba and Mayukwayukwa.
4. *Global Voice*: Loss of our seat to advocate for climate financing, debt restructuring, and fair trade for African countries.
*My Call to President Hakainde Hichilema*
Mr. President, you have built your reputation on diplomacy and re-engagement with the world. I therefore call on you to publicly and firmly direct your party functionaries to stop issuing these careless statements.
We can disagree with the UN without burning bridges. Electoral concerns must be addressed through our Constitution, the Electoral Commission, the courts, and diplomatic engagement — not by threatening to abandon institutions that feed our children and protect our sovereignty.
Let us put Zambia First. Let us protect the poor, the learners, the patients, and the soldiers who depend on these partnerships.
*Yours in service,*
*Stanley Mhango*
*MCC*