WHY I BELIEVE HAKAINDE HICHILEMA HAS EARNED ANOTHER CLEAR MANDATE

WHY I BELIEVE HAKAINDE HICHILEMA HAS EARNED ANOTHER CLEAR MANDATE

One of the greatest tests of any President is not how his supporters are treated, but how his opponents are treated. Looking at the 2026 electoral atmosphere, despite isolated incidents that must be condemned and investigated, I believe President Hakainde Hichilema has overseen the expansion of Zambia’s democratic space. Political parties are traversing the country, campaigns are largely proceeding according to schedule, and the atmosphere is noticeably calmer than many election periods in our recent history. That is progress we should acknowledge and protect.

This does not mean everything is perfect. Every life lost is one too many. Every act of political violence is unacceptable. Every report of any political party being unfairly prevented from campaigning should be investigated and addressed according to the law. A mature democracy protects the rights of every participant, regardless of political affiliation. That is the Zambia we must continue building.

Many of us remember election periods when fear overshadowed hope. There were allegations of widespread political intimidation, campaign vehicles burned, communities where opposition leaders feared to campaign, and tensions that threatened national unity. No patriotic Zambian should wish to return to such an environment. Democracy is strongest when ideas compete freely, and not when fear determines who may campaign.

President Hakainde Hichilema has, throughout much of his political life, been one of Zambia’s most criticised political figures. He endured sustained attacks while in opposition, and today, as President, he continues to face relentless criticism, rumours and allegations that spread rapidly across social media. In a democracy, leaders must expect scrutiny, but as citizens, we also have a responsibility to separate verified facts from speculation and to judge leaders primarily by their conduct, policies and measurable performance.

For me, this is one of the strongest reasons President Hakainde Hichilema deserves another mandate. Not because every promise has already been fulfilled, they have not. Not because there are no challenges, there are many, but because Zambia today is politically more stable and our democracy is more mature than it was four years ago. That stability gives us the opportunity to focus on the next phase, turning macroeconomic stability into household prosperity.

The next five years must be about ensuring that economic growth reaches every Zambian. We must expand access to the Constituency Development Fund so that even the smallest entrepreneurs in our compounds can benefit. We must strengthen support for farmers, create more jobs, empower youth and women, grow small businesses, and ensure that every ministry reaches ordinary citizens with practical opportunities. That is how democracy begins to improve everyday lives.

A peaceful democracy is the foundation upon which prosperity is built. Let us preserve the democratic gains we have made while demanding even greater economic transformation for every Zambian family.

Zambia Forward, TOGETHER in UNITY. 🇿🇲

Saviour Chishimba
President
United Progressive People (UPP)
UPND Alliance Partner