Hichilema says ‘a crocodile is still a crocodile’ as he attacks former PF leaders
President Hakainde Hichilema has accused opposition leaders of merely changing their political identity while remaining the same people who served under the former Patriotic Front administration, as he appealed to Zambians to support the United Party for National Development in the August general election.
Kabwe, 7 July – Addressing a campaign rally in Kabwe, President Hichilema said the country should not return to leaders whom he accused of mismanaging public resources while in government.
“The same people who borrowed the money when they were in PF have simply changed their names, but we know them,” he said. “They say they are different, but *ngwena ni ngwena* crocodile is still a crocodile whether it is in the Kafue, Zambezi or Mulungushi River.”
The President questioned why voters should trust former PF officials who are now campaigning under different political banners, arguing that they had previously withdrawn benefits such as meal allowances and had presided over economic mismanagement.
He further alleged that some opposition leaders wanted to gain access to the country’s foreign exchange reserves, which he said were being used to stabilise the Zambian currency.
“We do not want to go back to those days. We want to continue with progress,” he said.
Earlier, while addressing another rally in Kapiri Mposhi, President Hichilema urged residents to vote for the UPND to ensure the completion of the Lusaka–Ndola Dual Carriageway Project.
He said the government had significantly reduced the project’s cost from the US$1.8 billion proposed under the previous administration to about US$650 million, describing the savings as evidence of prudent management of public funds.
According to the President, the project will not only improve connectivity between Lusaka and Ndola but will also include the construction of tarred township roads in Kapiri Mposhi while creating employment opportunities for young people.
“If you change the government, those who failed to build this road before will come back and they will not finish it,” he said.
President Hichilema also called on voters to compare the country’s current direction with the previous administration before casting their ballots in the 2026 Zambian general election.
Separately, in his Unity Day message, President Hichilema said Zambia’s continued peace and political stability had strengthened investor confidence and
the foundation for economic recovery.
He said no investor would commit capital to a country characterised by instability and fear, adding that stability had enabled the government to rebuild credibility, attract investment and steady the Kwacha.
“The difficult decisions we took on our debt, on our credibility and rebuilding trust are beginning to bear fruit,” he said, adding that businesses across sectors were now planning for the future with greater confidence.
The President also credited national unity with preserving democratic freedoms, including an independent judiciary, a free press and peaceful trading environments following the removal of political cadres from markets and bus stations.
With just over a month before the August polls, President Hichilema appealed for peaceful campaigns, urging political leaders to place national interests above personal ambitions and encouraging citizens to protect Zambia’s long-standing peace.
He said public office should be viewed as an opportunity to serve the country rather than a platform for personal gain, while urging all Zambians to participate peacefully in the democratic process.
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