Why Zambia Must Support Hakainde Hichilema for a Second Term
By Dr. Catharine Frazha Benkele Mulaisho
When President Hakainde Hichilema took office, Zambia was standing on a precipice, burdened with an economy ravaged by years of mismanagement, corruption, and outright theft by the previous administration. The situation was so dire that many Zambians expected the economy to crumble entirely.
Yet here we are, standing on firmer ground. It is not luck but the fruit of HH’s deliberate policies and commitment to resuscitating this nation. Despite the monumental challenges inherited, HH has managed to stabilize our nation and steer us back toward growth, proving that he is the right leader for Zambia.
It’s true that in his role as an opposition leader, HH, like any other ambitious leader, made promises. What he didn’t know then were the shocking realities of the economic pit left by his predecessors. Upon assuming power, he came face-to-face with the devastating truth: years of debt accumulation with no visible or tangible returns, a broken economy, and a populace struggling under unbearable inflation and poverty.
Expectations were high, but let’s be clear—turning around a country doesn’t happen overnight.
Real investments take years to mature. Today, HH’s government has worked tirelessly to revive investor confidence. For the first time in years, we are seeing serious commitments in sectors that have long suffered—mines reopening, agricultural initiatives growing, and businesses finally finding the confidence to expand.
These are achievements that lay the groundwork for long-term economic stability, but Zambians must exercise patience. The progress we see today is only the beginning of a recovery process that will benefit future generations.
In these past two years, the most challenging period of HH’s presidency, he has delivered measurable stability. Inflation is being tamed, and while the kwacha may not have reached its ideal strength, it is far from the freefall we saw under the previous regime.
These are monumental feats considering the hurdles he inherited. If we abandon the UPND now, we risk seeing all these hard-won gains undone. We risk losing the stability that, though subtle, is holding our nation together.
Imagine a change in government at this critical juncture, a period when investments are beginning to bear fruit. Zambians must recognize that any sudden shift would derail the economy, crush investor confidence, and set us back by years, if not decades. Changing the leadership now would invite chaos and confusion, undoing everything HH has painstakingly worked to build.
Let us not ignore that HH has also had his fair share of lessons in leadership. Every leader matures with time, and HH has shown a willingness to adapt, learn, and recalibrate. His experiences in governance and economic management over the last two years have been invaluable.
This growth will surely enable him to approach his second term with the wisdom and understanding that Zambia’s economy demands. Unlike leaders who clung to power without evolving, HH has proven he’s willing to grow for Zambia’s sake.
Let’s not mince words: a return to the PF regime, or any similar government, would be a disaster for Zambia. These are the same individuals who not only looted the nation’s wealth but left Zambians grappling with unexplained, crippling debt. Even now, we still do not know where the billions of dollars in debt went—there are no infrastructural marvels or industries to show for it, only the bloated bank accounts of former officials who feasted on public funds.
A second term for HH is a step toward justice and accountability, ensuring that Zambia never again becomes a feeding ground for corrupt vultures.
The same hyenas that looted our resources now lurk in the shadows, hoping for a second chance to finish what they started. We can not allow that to happen. Zambians must reject the politics of the belly, the selfish ambitions of leaders who see government as a pathway to personal wealth rather than public service.
This is not the time to gamble with Zambia’s future by falling for sweet-talking opportunists. This is the time to stand firm, be patriotic, and support a leader who has proven he values this nation over personal gain.
The challenge we face as a nation now is not just about who will be president; it’s about what kind of Zambia we want to leave for future generations.
HH’s administration has planted the seeds of recovery, seeds that need time to grow. For this vision to bear fruit, Zambians must set aside political bickering and selfish interests. We must make a choice based on patriotism, a choice that says we will not sell our nation to the highest bidder.
We need stability, continuity, and a leader who understands the importance of laying a strong economic foundation. HH is that leader, and he deserves our support to continue what he has started.
A second term is not a favor to him but a vote for a stronger, self-sufficient Zambia. This is a call to every Zambian who believes in a future beyond corruption, beyond mediocrity, and beyond the politics of self-enrichment. It is a call to protect the Zambia we all deserve.
The decision in 2026 is not merely a political one; it is about safeguarding the very essence of Zambia’s future. A vote for HH and the UPND is a vote for continuity, stability, and growth.
The alternative is a return to the dark days, where our nation’s coffers were nothing but a piggy bank for a select few, where ordinary Zambians bore the brunt of financial mismanagement and corruption.
HH has brought us out of the depths of economic despair, and while the journey is far from over, we are moving in the right direction.
Zambians must look beyond the immediate challenges and focus on the bigger picture. With HH, we have a chance to build a Zambia where opportunity, prosperity, and justice are not privileges for the few but rights for all.
Let us stand united, let us be patriotic, and let us give HH the mandate to finish the work he has started. Our future, and the future of generations to come, depend on it.
Kali mwitobo
Ba Dr Mulaisho mufuna nchito ka? Your intro is an exaggeration if not fiction:
When President Hakainde Hichilema took office, Zambia was standing on a precipice, …..The situation was so dire that many Zambians expected the economy to crumble entirely.
I didnt expect the economy to crumble. It was working but we had too many thieves wanting to reap from that. It hasnt changed. As usual we are still waiting for promised manna; like the Kwacha appreciating in six hours etc. Nearly every new political party we have voted into power says what you state.
So all of you politicians should focus more on practical plans rather than forcing us to fantasize your achievements
Please, be truthful to yourself, how can you say it was working, when the country was defaulting? It became the first country in the world to default after Srilanka, do you recall the discussion that was going on fearing that China might do to Zambia what it did to Srilanka? How can you say it was okay, when inflation was going up, when the exchange rates were unstable and going up? Are you telling us it was same as in RB government?
Come on, be objective.
@General Kanene what superlative are you in a hurry to hand out to Zambia?
” It became the first country in the world to default after Srilanka” What does that meaningless statement say? First after??? It just shows you are, like a UPND cadre, in a hurry to smear the previous government.
China had no intention of doing anything to Zambia. Your own press speculated on that and came up with fiction which Beijing didnt want to venerate by officially responding to.
Read the Bi-annual World Economic Outlook, Fiscal Monitor or the semi-annual Global Financial Stability Report and you will see that Zambia wasnt in an irretrievable quagmire: IMF was checking you out on politics before it could approve anything. When we peacefully handed over power from ruling party to opposition it was obvious all discussions would resume.
Imwe ba LT I havent finished my retort!
Bani sensa ba LT. Nzelu zabwanji??
We are moving in the right direction-Zambian technocrats
Akangiwa na nchito; 3 years is long enough to show progress, but cluelessness reigns everywhere you look. And he appears to have given up on the crippling blackouts. Unfortunately, we can’t see any credible replacement for 2026!
Sishuwa Sishuwa and John Sangwa should form a party. They should recruit Lucky Mulusa as the Secretary General.
The many fools we have in Zambia will disagree with this common sense..
If the fools are in the majority there’s nothing you can do about it. Thats democracy for you. Cant you see how a fool has garnered such a big following in the USA?
Say it for yourself not for Zambians… each one has their own reasons for or against Hakainde Hichilema having a second term.
And please stop referring to people as hyenas….if they are animals so are you since you look like them.
Each Zambian only has one vote. And when change is inevitable, even such articles as this one mean nil. The UPND project is a zero sum.
Only people with big brain can understand the current situation otherwise those with cadre mentality will argue
The collapse of governance under UPND has dramatically reshaped our perception of just how detrimental the PF economy was. While it had its issues, it pales in comparison to the dire situation we face today. The hallmark of UPND’s administration appears to be propaganda and the rampant abuse of police authority, which may offer you a slight underhand advantage as it gears up for 2026. However, if you don’t change course, be prepared to face a reckoning, with many of your former supporters leading the charge to rectify the grave mistake of choosing HH in 2022. Never before has Zambia been so poorly managed as it is under UPND.
Elections are 2 years away, campaigns haven’t even started yet you’re asking Zambians to support a candidate whom we don’t know if he’s even going to be on the ballot because we all don’t know what the future holds. Isn’t this an admission of failure? It’s a confirmation that you have noticed that he has lost support too early. HH wasn’t popular. He won a protest vote so he should concentrate on the delivery of his campaign promises otherwise he’ll be kicked out very quickly
ONE MAN PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY REALLY ???
I DONT THINK SO
What planet does the author live on?
Pluto
Presidential Election Results
210
Kamala Harris
Donald J. Trump
270
to win
61,280,821 votes (47.4%)
66,059,509 votes (51.1%)
247
What can we learn from the US Elections?
I’d rather have Donald Trump than the democrats. People may say he’s a racist but one thing is he doesn’t interfere with other countries affairs. Biden has even set up a military base here….we are not at war so why the base? Maybe to kill us when we protest against the blue eyed one.
We can learn zero from that
60 years down the line we still like a headless chicken running around
@Tikki..We can learn nothing from the US because the Ziomafia who control the US will continue creating wars for profit via the military industrial complex. I does not matter who occupies the Oval office!
“What he didn’t know then were the shocking realities of the economic pit left by his predecessors. Upon assuming power, he came face-to-face with the devastating truth”
Fiction: Designed for cartoon heroes with magic gloves to punch their way into your heart.
He dumped his gloves. They were making him unpopular. Worse still he was never popular at all. Hence his odd method of crushing the opposition so he can stand tall. Weirdo.
Mayo go on the ground and tell that to People ukamona ifyo baka kulu tula
“HH has brought us out of the depths of economic despair, and while the journey is far from over, we are moving in the right direction.”
THIS MAN HAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF PERCEIVING SITUATIONS.
Those that know him will understand self Interest first
if he was in finance I would say YES YRS YES
No chance! Chilema is turning out to be a nightmare.
It would be funny if it was not so tragic!
Kikikikikiki!
Pluto is no longer a planet. From 2006 it was “demoted” because it’s orbit isn’t clear of other debris. So the author isn’t on any planet
Sugesting SS and Sangwa Just shows how shallow we are
IG Seeking to recruit 3000 more police officers before 2026
Really does he want all our GDP to go on civil servants
Sadly this is where we are today
We should be discussing are we able to self rule ?
How enlightened are Zambians? – commentaries says it all – groping in the dark.
Groping in the dark sums it up perfectly
No alternative solutions apart from SS & Sanga
The only things these 2 can do is Yap Yap
Being learned doesnt necessary come with common sense
Suppressing opinions is described as a beginning of dictatorship. All of has an opinion and so have you. If you’re the only who’s right then it’s better you join someone on Pluto.
At the last 2 years. HH has been in power for more than 3 years. You are disbasing kikikikiik
FM#26
No matter how much you sugar coat or you put cream on it, a bun will remain a bun. Everyone has a right to their opinion as for me even if Hakainde did magic in the last two years he does not have my vote. He has just messed up the good people from Southern province. All hopes of Kachasu boy aspiring for presidency are in vein. Munzi Wapya.
Amabuns was my favourite Breaktime snack!!
You should remember that people voted against PF not for UPND
Same as FREDRICK AND KK
We can not return HH because he has failed in all key performance indicators. Compare the following in 2021 vs 2024. The exchange rate, the price of fuel, the price of food, electricity availability and tariffs. I will not go in to dictatorship and tribalism. When it comes to corruption, nothing has changed but just new players.
Obviously he is going to win a second term. Nothing to do with his achievements as people don’t even want upnd but for the mere fact that there is no credible opposition. They want to bring back lungu and there is no way people are going to vote for lungu again.
Ati he has stabilised the country. How?
Lamentable and visible failure everywhere. These must go. You find maize in reserve, you sell and create a crisis. Zimbabwe does not have a power crisis like we have because they conserved water in Kariba by clawing back exports on time, that is leadership. Now the song is drought, and yet even before the drought, UPND had already failed. For clarity I am not even PF but a neutral Zambian
The choice between UPND and PF is as horrible as the just ended USA election. We need a 1964 or 1991 type of change. How can you fight corruption with corruption, tribalism with tribalism? How do you turn your back against your own people for foreign interests? As for the violent thieves of the last decade go rot in jail or exile.
Vely boling article
This man was elected as Republican President, but he demoted himself to serving his tribesmen. Perhaps the job of headman is what he requires. The man is not a statesman. He is a scammer!!
Repeat!!!!!!!!!!How enlightened are Zambians? – commentaries says it all – groping in the dark.