By Daily Revelation Correspondent
Woza/Tonse/Pamodzi chairperson Sakwiba Sikota has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to grow real reserves by stopping corruption in his government, collect fair mining taxes, keep dollars more copper and dollars in the Bank of Zambia and stop waste
“And put your people first during this ‘permanent emergency of hunger and poor living conditions’, use reserves to stabilize prices, not speeches,” stated Sikota. “As citizens, we have been through load shedding, hunger, and broken promises on farming inputs. Do not add national reserves as another lie to that list.”
He urged President Hichilema to stop pretending like all was well, saying ‘reserve tricks’ will not work because youths remain jobless and households live on less than a dollar per day.
“Listening to President Hakainde Hichilema speaking to citizens during his official launch of a national campaign sends a wrong signal with empty speeches apart from boasting with hunger for things his government has not done to improve the lives of many Zambian people, we have suffered enough and it is time for UPND and president HH to go come 13 August 2026,” Sikota stated. “For the past 5 years, we have lived through difficult conditions with load shedding that killed our businesses, hunger that emptied our kitchens and farming inputs that arrived late, in very few quantities, or no inputs at all.”
He stated that under the UPND administration, it was very clear that only imvestors, UPND cadres and a few connected business people to UPND have been supported and are the ones speaking more louder and continue to neglect the needs of the Citizens.
“We can’t eat speeches and salt Sana where there is no food.
“Under president HH, we have not witnessed real infrastructure drive to boost production and grow the economy. There are no good noads, no factories or Industries, no irrigation, and agro-processing plants to support food production, it’s only empty promises and no progress to create radical development in Zambia,” Sikota stated. “Today, everything is on credit. Nsima on credit. Fuel on credit. Medicine on credit. Hope on credit and nothing is making sense. We want to remind you that Zambians have suffered at the expense of lies and manipulation and it is very clear from your address today to the Zambian people.”
He charged that the the President was not only President Hichilema, but the entire UPND government, saying they must stop turning national reserves into campaign banners.
“It’s very frustrating to hear you boast about $6.4 billion in reserves when people in Kamwala, in Kitwe, luwingu, Chadidza, Shangombo and in Choma are suffering. Mr. President the small reserves we have saved are not for applause, they only represent 3-4 months of import cover and steady economy in a short period of time and they are only there for emergencies and protect our economy from collapsing,” Sikota stated. “It’s very troubling to abuse words of National Reserves at public rallies like you did while everything is on credit. Our reserves are minimal and it represents zero payout to the people. To the UPND, your economics fails the kitchen table test when wages have not matched inflation, when fuel and medicine are out of reach, your “reserves messages are just noise in the public.
He told Zambians that the much talked about $6.4 billion only represents 3 to 4 months of import cover, and described the same as too low and not a strength as it was for emergencies to stop the Kwacha from collapsing when fuel prices jump.
He stated that the reserves were also aimed at keeping drugs in clinics, to keep fertilizer cheap and on time for farmers and to protect a mother’s budget next month.
Sikota stated that singing about them on a campaign stage was pure desperation and dishonesty.
