WHY I SUPPORT A SECOND TERM OF OFFICE FOR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA AND THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND)- Dr Fred Mutesa
WHY I SUPPORT A SECOND TERM OF OFFICE FOR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA AND THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND)
By Dr Fred Mutesa
1. PREAMBLE
In five-weeks time, Zambia goes to the polls to decide who will wield the reigns of political power for the next five years. Contestants are busy traversing the length and breadth of the nation, canvassing for support. The heat of election campaigns has a way of putting the nation on tenterhooks. It is also unfortunate that, sixty-two years after independence, we have not been able to remove the despicable specter of political violence from our electoral process, resulting in unnecessary loss of life and damage to property, in some cases. This is abhorrent and contrary to the democratic principles and values which we have embraced.
My prayer is that the day may not be too far away when we can remove this stain from our political system. The conduct of elections should be done in an environment in which citizens are able to exercise their right to associate with whomever they prefer, without intimidation and fear.
Below, I put forward my justification for supporting another term of office for Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND. This, in no way, implies that I agree with everything that Hichilema and the UPND have done or not done. Neither does it suggest that I disrespect those in opposition and others that hold contrary opinions. I am just exercising my inalienable human right to express what I believe is in the national interest of our beloved nation. I also recognize and respect the right of others to hold and express contrary views.
2. AGREEING TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE
We are all free to be passionate about the views we hold and who we align ourselves with, but we should be civil and tolerant in the way we treat one another. In other words, we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable. As citizens of one nation, we should never allow politics to make enemies of one another. We are bound to be on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but we share a common heritage and destiny. As such, we should always leave room for reconciliation. As the saying goes, there are no permanent enemies or allies in politics, only permanent interests. It should never be about artificial boundaries. Never them versus us! We all have a responsibility to heal the rift. It is disheartening to witness the vitriol that holding contrary views usually attracts.
My support for HH and the UPND is based on three main factors, namely proven leadership, national interest and the need for Zambia to successfully navigate its way in the global context. I also have a word for HH as he takes the oath of office for the second term, as I believe he will.
3. PROVEN LEADERSHIP
In my view, next month’s elections should be about proven leadership. We have reached a critical phase in our development as a nation, at which we can’t afford the luxury of experimenting with leadership. This is not about disparaging those who have put themselves forward to challenge HH. The diktat of national development calls for consistency and continuity. There is too much at stake for us to always be going back to the drawing board every time we vote. This nation is reverberating to a rhythm which should not be disrupted if we are to see widespread development across the nation.
From 2006 to date, HH has proved his leadership mettle. He held the UPND together in opposition after the demise of its founder Anderson Mazoka. He persevered through successive electoral defeats until the UPND won the 2021 elections and formed government. HH has demonstrated capacity to lead.
The problem with political alliances is that they easily unravel when the common enemy is removed, making it practically difficult to govern. We saw this in neighbouring Malawi between Chakwera and the late Saulos Chilima. Sooner or later, wrangles emerge which distract leaders from the task of governing the nation. Personal ambitions begin to take center stage and development assumes the back seat as members of the alliance jostle for power. The next five years will be decisive for Zambia, the nation can’t afford a leadership based on a marriage of convenience.
4. NATIONAL INTEREST
Political controversy that characterizes election campaigns has a way of obscuring national interest. Cheap political rhetoric and misinformation cloud rational thought. Oversimplified analyses pass for truth. It is important therefore that we remind ourselves about what constitutes true national interest.
Zambia’s national interest is about creating an enabling environment in which every citizen willing to work can have an opportunity to live a decent and dignified life, free from poverty, ignorance and insecurity. It is important to recognize that national interest is not an event. It is a process that is laboriously realized over time. One thing HH is to be applauded for has been his ability to put together and lead an excellent economic management team. This team has steered the nation from the economic doldrums in which it had sunk by 2021 to where we are today.
There is no hiding the fact that life is still hard for the majority of our citizens, but we can’t also run away from acknowledging that we can now see a ray of light for our economy, which got extinguished by 2021 when we couldn’t afford to repay our external debts and risked being consigned to junky status.
Significant progress as a result of painstaking work has been made, particularly with debt restructuring, stabilizing the economy and attracting investments. Investor confidence has rebounded. What we need now is to safeguard and sustain the gains we have made. When an economy, whether at household or national level, is living beyond its means, austerity becomes unavoidable. You can’t share a cake which is not there; you first have to bake it. HH, with his trademark trade and investments mantra, understands this better than anyone else I have heard speak on this subject.
There is a gestation period for the fruits of good policies to become evident to all. I believe, with HH, we are on course. These policies are already bearing fruit as evidenced by improved economic indices. I am convinced that another five years, opportunities will proliferate, jobs will come, and service delivery will improve. If we apply the brakes now, we will only reset the clock backwards. A winning team is not to be changed; it is to be maintained.
To the credit of HH and his administration, it is an amazing accomplishment that in the midst of austerity designed to put the economy back on the growth trajectory, government has managed to grow the employment numbers in the critical sectors of education and health, as well as ensure that the most vulnerable of our people have access to social safety nets. If Zambians make an ill-advised decision to change leadership now, it is a guaranteed fact that life will not instantly improve for those bearing the brunt of poverty. It is very likely that a relapse may even happen and things are likely to get worse for many, except for the privileged minority who will get appointments to public offices and government contracts. These are factors to consider.
5. GLOBAL CONTEXT
Sometimes listening to our politicians articulate issues, one would be forgiven to think that Zambia is an island. It is the job of politicians to dramatize issues. What would be wrong is for the voters to be impaired in their judgement by rhetoric and misinformation. Zambia is a member of the international community of nations in which it is bound by certain obligations and responsibilities. Leaders strive to advance their own national interests in the turbulent sea of competing interests.
It takes bold and courageous leadership to negotiate the interests of one’s own nation in the murky waters of international relations. In this regard, HH has been admirable, as the country’s chief diplomat. He has exceeded many expectations. He has skillfully and tactically navigated Zambia’s interests and those of the global south at large, in a manner reminiscent of the era of Africa’s founding leaders. It is sad that many of his opponents at home, deliberately choose to brush this fact aside. I simply do not see anyone among his competitors who would do half as good a job as HH has done. HH has brought Zambia back into the champions league.
6. HEALING THE RIFT
I believe HH has demonstrated sufficient merit to warrant a second term of office. I urge my fellow citizens to retain him on 13th August 2026. Going forward, I would like to see him exert the same vigour to healing the political rift in the nation as he has demonstrated in dealing with the economy. We are all responsible for guaranteeing that Zambia remains a beacon of peace and unity on the continent, but disproportionate responsibility falls on the shoulders of those entrusted with the authority of leadership. Zambia must heal for us to enjoy tranquility and prosperity. I am of the view that given a second term of office, there are many things HH is bound to do differently and for the betterment of Zambia. Let Zambians of goodwill support him.
God bless Zambia.
