Why put a term limit on Hichilema? wonders Liswaniso
UPND National Youth Chairman Gilbert Liswaniso has questioned the rationale behind limiting the number of terms a President can serve, arguing that voters, rather than constitutional restrictions, should have the final say on who remains in power.
Liswaniso says there is no reason why the presidency should be subjected to term limits when other elected positions, including Members of Parliament and councillors, do not face the same restriction.
“Councillors have no limit, council chairpersons now have no limits, MPs have no limit. Why do you want to limit only one person?” he asks.
Liswaniso further argues that even if President Hakainde Hichilema is allowed to seek another term, it would ultimately be the electorate that determines whether he remains in office.
“Who removes people from power? Is it not the voters? Even if he stands and the people do not want him, they will vote him out,” he says.
He maintains that the issue does not warrant extensive debate within the UPND, saying the party has the ability to make its own decision on the matter if it reaches an agreement..
“For me, there is no discussion here. If you were to ask me, there’s no discussion here. If the UPND wants that, they can do it, yes. Do we want it as a party? If it is agreed, yes,” Liswaniso says.
He, however, reiterates that ultimately, the decision should rest with the people, who have the power to reject any candidate at the ballot.
“So why do you want to put a term limit on Hakainde Hichilema? You put a limit on the people of Zambia?” Liswaniso wonders.
– Trending Stories TV | September 22, 2026
Term limits is vital because ,African leaders like to impose themselves on top. We don’t want to see soldiers again in poling stations come 2031.
They think 2031 will be a walk in the Park. Doom is waiting for them.
The Constitution was not made for one person. It’s the Supreme Law of the nation. It must be respected no matter what!
Bwana , You and your Party are headed for doom if you take that route.
Mr. Liswaniso, if you don’t like the idea of Mr. Hichilema being restricted to two five year terms, then ask him to stand as a councillor or MP. Then he can have the unlimited tenure you so desire for him.
The two term restriction was not just something that dropped out of the blues like a bolt of lightning. It was arrived at by national consensus after the ravages of the one party state under Dr. Kaunda and UNIP. We don’t want a repeat of the “wamuyayaya” syndrome. The longer one stays in power the harder it is to leave and the more repressive they get to maintain their hold on power. Examples abound. Mugabe, Museveni, et al. HH is no exception.
I honestly hope President HH will not be so foolish as to ruin his reputation and legacy by insisting on a third term or unlimited terms. It can only end in rivers of tears.
The party zealots seem to be all fired up on this issue of extending HH’s rule beyond the constitutional two terms. As citizens let’s take this seriously and quietly start mobilising to resist any attempt to tamper with this constitutional provision which has served us well so far.
We must not go to sleep. The war drums have been sounded.