By Mwansa Kaumba
Former Fodep executive director and Citizens First member of central committee Stanley Mhango has urged President Hakainde Hichilema not to listen to publicly and firmly direct his party functionaries to stop issuing careless statements that Zambia should pull out of the United Nations (UN).
Mhango stated the government could disagree with the UN without burning bridges.
Electoral concerns must be addressed through our Constitution, the Electoral Commission, the courts, and diplomatic engagement — not by threatening to abandon institutions that feed our children and protect our sovereignty,” he stated. “I wish to express deep concern and condemn in the strongest terms the careless statements from certain sections of the UPND advocating for Zambia’s withdrawal from the United Nations, following the UN’s expression of concern regarding the 2026 General Elections.”
Mhango stated that while the UPND government had the right to respond to any international observation, threatening to walk away from 60 years of multilateral cooperation was reckless and not in Zambia’s national interest.
”Zambia’s strength has always been its diplomacy. Since 1964, we have used the UN and other international platforms to punch above our weight — to secure debt relief, attract development funding, contribute to peacekeeping, and protect the rights of small nations. Isolating ourselves because of political disagreements weakens that voice,” Mhango stated. “We have seen what happens when funding is withdrawn*
The recent USAID program cuts and reviews already showed us the pain.
1. Health: Delays in ARV deliveries, TB outreach, and maternal health programs run by USAID partners. 2. Education: Scaling back of literacy programs and girls’ education support in rural schools.
3. Food Security: Delays in drought response food aid to Southern and Western provinces in 2024.”
Mhango said if problems could be seen with just one bilateral donor pulling back, the country would be far worse without the UN.
”What Zambia stands to lose if we withdraw from the UN: 1. Development Funding: Hundreds of millions in grants from UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA for school feeding, vaccines, HIV/TB/Malaria, and early learning projects like ZEEL. 2. Peacekeeping: Recall of Zambian troops and loss of training, experience, and allowances for our defense forces.
3. Humanitarian Response: WFP and UNHCR support during floods, droughts, and for refugees in Meheba and Mayukwayukwa,” stated Mhango. 4. Global Voice: Loss of our seat to advocate for climate financing, debt restructuring, and fair trade for African countries.”
He stated that President Hichilema had built his reputation on “diplomacy and re-engagement with the world.”
”I therefore call on you to publicly and firmly direct your party functionaries to stop issuing these careless statements,” stated Mhango. “Let us put Zambia First. Let us protect the poor, the learners, the patients, and the soldiers who depend on these partnerships.”
