By Mubanga Mubanga
President Hakainde Hichilema says if he did not provide leadership after the change of government in 2021, the country could have been on fire.
And President Hichilema said no one should be intimidated by the coming of Dr Nevers Mumba to the UPND alliance, assuring that the Vice-President’s role and that of Felix Mutati and others were assured.
President Hichilema said this at the UPND secretariat in Lusaka yesterday, where his party and the MMD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enter into an alliance ahead the 2026 general elections.
“If l had allowed this (pointing at the cadres) … to revenge on the 16th of August, 2021, there would have been no country called Zambia. I know these guys know who killed their friends, l know these guys know who were beating them in Kulima Tower. These guys knew who were beating them at Intercity,” President Hichilema said.
“lf l did not provide leadership, to the annoyance of the cadres, because these guys (cadres) were against me, but l knew the consequences of their capabilities. If l didn’t act correctly, this country could have been on fire.”
President Hichilema also said the UPND understood that revenge was not for them but for God.
“This party understands the meaning of tolerance, this party understands revenge is not for us. Mukali kumvela(Are you listening)? This party understands that revenge is not for us, it is for God,” President Hichilema said
He added that the UPND knew what it meant to go through a rough journey and suffering.
“This party knows … UPND knows what suffering is, this party knows what persecution is, this party knows what democratic state means, or none of it. This party understands. I was saying that this party knows what a rough journey means, resilience. This party understands that,” President Hichilema said.
He said the party also understood losing party members and young people such as Grazia Matapa, Mapenzi Chibulu, Joseph Kaunda, Lawrence Banda and many more.
In apparent reference to Dr Chishimba Kambwili, President Hichilema said there were people who prior to the 2021 elections were sent to issue tribal remarks, but now they were reaping the consequences, but they wanted to put blame on him for their self-inflicted problems.
“They were told this particular one, even the ethnic issues were very normal. This Tonga chap, this one will never be allowed to enter the State House, so why are you supporting him? Because even if he wins, he will never be allowed to enter the State House house,” President Hichilema said.
“Some walked away, somewhere issuing insulting talk, abusive language, and today the law has caught up with them. But they want to blame other people. They must blame themselves for bleaching the law.
Meanwhile, President Hichilema said all the members of the UPND should not feel intimidated by the coming of the MMD to the alliance, because each member had a role to play
“There is room for everybody, in the house of unity, there is room for everybody. So colleagues, let us welcome this MMD, UPND, alliance. The truth of the matter is that Mr (Felix) Mutati (Technology and Science minister), Dr Mumba has got his role, everybody has a role to play,” President Hichilema said.
He said this alliance did not replace the Vice-President’s role, saying her contribution was already kept, adding that everyone would perform different roles.
President Hichilema mocked the opposition that they were too small to emulate what the UPND alliance achieved in the 2021 general elections.
“We have our friends trying to mimic this alliance and will always say mwachepa sana (you are too small). It is not a joke, enduring these problems to form a government, under the most brutal regime we have ever experienced,” President Hichilema said.
At the same event, MMD leader Dr Nevers Mumba said he was not going to stand in 2026, but would instead back President Hichilema for re-election
“We would like to announce the following, l shall not be offering myself for presidency in the 2026 elections, but will instead, together with the Movement for Multi Party Democracy, endorse president Hakainde Hichilema as our candidate,” Dr Mumba said.
Dr Mumba likened himself working together with President Hichilema to what happened before Independence, where Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula from the African National Congress (ANC) from Southern Province, partnered with Kenneth Kaunda from the United Independent Party (UNIP).
“In 1964 , fellow countryman leader ANC Mr Mwaanga Nkumbula from Beengwa through his political support behind the leader of UNIP, Dr David Kenneth Kaunda of Chinsali to birth a new Republic of Zambia. Today … in a symbolic way, leader of MMD Nevers Mumba from Chinsali has thrown his weight behind the leader of UPND, Hakainde Hichilema from Bweengwa,” said Mumba.
