By Angela Moonga
President Hakainde Hichilema has urged people to carry the sick to go and vote, and take them back to bed after they have voted, in order to protect the development under his administration.
And the President has described the 2026 general elections as serious business.
Addressing residents upon his arrival in Mongu yesterday, President Hichilema pronounced several achievements performed under his administration, which he said must be protected by people turning out in huge numbers to vote.
He urged even those who were not in talking terms with others to go and make peace with each other.
“Even the one who is sick that day you give them tablet, you give them food, you carry them mwa kochikala, on a bicycle, you take them to the polling station to go and vote. After voting, take them back to bed and give them more food. Then they will have done work for our children, for development,” President Hichilema said.
He said free education was now law and urged people to turn out in numbers to protect it.
He said the pass rate could be low in Western Province because of lack of boarding schools, but he would construct more boarding schools.
He urged people to keep away those who would take away free education, and who also took away students meal allowances from coming to power. He also promised to build and complete Lewanika University.
He urged people against staying home thinking he had already won, as they would only be able to protect the gains by voting in big numbers.
He also urged large turnout to vote for members of parliament for the UPND in order to legislate.
He said what he promised he delivered, including the construction of a key bridge in the province.
“Hakainde waluna,” sung President Hichilema of himself, as the crowd joined in the singing.
He warned that if they did not vote they would return to the days when they used to be beaten.
He said now there was freedom which needed to be protected by voting.
“2026 elections is not for games, it’s a serious business. HH needs to win and win with a big number,” said President Hichilema.
He said this would help him to have more members of parliament nominated to parliament and in the councils.
He urged that every family member who was eligible to vote must go and vote. He said people must vote first before going to fish, including the cattlemen like himself.
He said those who were not adopted could get to parliament through proportional representation and nominations.
