Hichilema should be sincere on credible elections in 2026

By Daily Revelation Editor

In his Friday address to the nation, President Hakainde Hichilema said credible elections constitute a critical hallmark of a functioning democracy. He said, “as a country, we pride ourselves in having peaceful and credible elections with a peaceful transition from one administration to another. “

Hichilema said in preparation for the general election in August next year, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will conduct a countrywide voter education and mass registration of voters.

He urged every eligible citizen to register and exercise their democratic right to vote while calling for peaceful and credible elections by all well meaning Zambian.

While Hichilema wishes for a credible elections are welcome, we wish to urge his government to address some of the concerns that various stakeholders are already airing out, among them alleged unfair competition against the opposition, arrest of opposition political leaders on tramped up charges or politically motivated charges, alleged party cadres heading and managing the electoral process among others.

To have a credible election does not just happen like magic. It demands that certain aspects be taken into consideration.

One of the critical aspects to take into account is ensuring a fair competition among political parties and candidates. Clearly, something that has many questioning if this is something the UPND government wants to see.

Since the UPND government took over power four years ago, we have not seen fair competition among the participating political parties. We say this because the only time opposition political parties have had meaningful opportunity to interface with the electorates is when the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has officially declared election periods for a certain by election. Outside that, the opposition encounter serious challenges. There are instances where the opposition have been stopped by the police to interact with voters through public rallies.

Over time, we have also seen many opposition political parties denied permits to hold rallies or political meetings.

Not too long ago, the Socialist Party complained of how the police under the UPND allegedly denied them 29 permits in the last four years.

The Citizens First (CF) have also had situations where they have been denied permits although on few occasions, they have been allowed and many think because the political party is not viewed as a threat. But granting what are perceived as convenient permits to the opposition cannot be used as a measure for promoting democracy.

If it’s the Patriotic Front, we cannot even talk about how they have not only been denied permits but also that the government has had a stronger hand in the confusion currently happening in the former ruling party thereby, denying the largest opposition ruling party an opportunity to thrive and play the role of keeping effective checks and balances. We have seen some high government officials bragging that the opposition is dead when it looks like government is silently playing politics in distabilizing the main opposition.

These are just but a few examples. There is need for Hichilema and his government to allow opposition political parties to hold rallies and meetings and be able to interact with the electorate.

Ever since the UPND came into power, the country has had many by-elections at ward, mayoral and Parliamentary level. We have seen the likes of sports minister Elvis Nkandu and Small Medium and Enterprises minister Elias Mubanga and many others from the ruling party go flat out to campaign anywhere where there is a by-election. But the opposite is true for the opposition. Many of them face challenges ranging from violence allegedly instigated by those from the ruling party and being denied space to interact with the electorate.

We have also seen how Hichilema goes round the country on working visits that turn into political rallies. While it looks like he has started campaigning, the opposition political parties have been confined to their office meetings.

We have also seen a new trend where State House is being turned into a campaign centre where different groupings are being taken to meet with the President and endorse him.

A few weeks ago, University of Zambia (UNZA) students from both Great East Road and Ridgeway Campuses flooded the State House grounds and praised Hichilema for what they termed many achievements and further endorsed him for the 2026 general elections.

We doubt any opposition leader would be allowed to convene students or any other grouping. The police would quickly disrupt such meetings and even use teargas to disperse people.

We also saw last week, the bus drivers and marketeers from Kulima Tower Bus Stations, a seemingly UPND stronghold at State House interacting with Hichilema. He may say because he is President all these people are paying a courtesy but no! The man is campaigning while the opposition waits the declaration of the official campaign period and it may be too late for them.

We urge Hichilema to be manganous and allow his political opponents to also be given space to interact with whichever group they would like to talk to and sell their manifestos.