Why Is Hichilema Afraid Of Free And Fair 2026 Elections?
By Dr Mwelwa
President Hichilema’s behaviour as the country moves toward 2026 raises one unavoidable question: why is a government that once enjoyed strong public goodwill now acting like it is terrified of the people’s verdict?
The signs are visible everywhere.
A confident administration does not tighten institutions in secret or summon journalists for doing their jobs. It does not rush constitutional changes at night or intimidate broadcasters because of Facebook comments. Only a government unsure of its own record begins to fight shadows.
If the UPND had delivered, there would be no need to silence anyone. Farmers would be celebrating a stable season, not queuing for input explanations. Young people would be hopeful, not restless. Job creation would be a reality, not a slogan. An economy that was truly thriving would not require state machinery to mute criticism.
If the governing party genuinely believed in its popularity, Bill 7 would not be returning through indirect processes, carefully packaged but clearly designed to influence the electoral ground before 2026.
The truth is simple and uncomfortable. The national mood has shifted.
Farmers feel neglected. Students are frustrated by limited opportunities. Civil servants are weighed down by loans. Marketeers complain that business has dried up. Bus drivers face rising taxes. Many households are down to one meal a day. Load shedding has taken away what little optimism families had left.
- These pressures explain the tightening of institutions.
- They explain the repeated warnings issued to the media.
- They explain the attempts to adjust constitutional provisions seven months before Parliament dissolves.
- They explain the sudden increase in propaganda designed to create a reality that citizens no longer recognise.
None of this is a sign of strength. It is fear.
A government confident in its achievements walks freely into an election. A government aware that it has fallen short tries to shape the battlefield before the referee whistles for kickoff.
State institutions are increasingly being directed to weaken the opposition, not through popular contest but through political engineering. This trend has created uncertainty among citizens who worry that democratic norms are being slowly eroded.
So the important question is not merely why President Hichilema appears nervous about a fair contest.
The deeper question is: why should Zambians be afraid to choose new leadership when those in office have not lived up to their promises?
The 2026 election is no longer about parties.
It is not a traditional PF versus UPND contest.
It is a moment that pits truth against deception, leadership against improvisation, the people against a system that no longer listens.
And the people are awakening to that reality.
This is true. HH must remember that the preamble of the constitution says, WE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA. Not over night constitution change.
I am UPND but i dont agree that we are better off now than we were 4 years ago. That is not true! We are infact worse off now, the economy has totally collapsed, and strangely and regrettably they are still some Zambians who think CDF can change our economic fortunes as Zambians. There are still some Zambians who even think cash for work can improve our lives. This government has completely run out of ideas, look at the self-praise when they commissioned Chisamba solar project, but Dangote comes and says you are wasting time by going solar.
Totally agree with you. Visionary leader
Jesus once said,”You have eyes but you can’t see” ‘The economy collapsed under pf, today it’s recovering. Development and rehabilitation don’t come easily. Education to young ones is now booming on free basis. Mining that dwindled under pf is now booming. Production of farming in puts is now booming, more investors are now coming in. More job and business opportunities are now booming. What collapse of economy are you talking about? Are you using nakachinda’s binoculars?
I guess you don’t understand what you’re describing when you talk about the collapse of the economy. I can bet, had zambians voted for ECL, this country was going to be worse than Zim or Somali. The economy is on the turn around and just take advantage of the atmophere to improve your personal life…back yard garden or develop a skill to become more competitive.
Who told you that Hh was afraid of the ?
Because there is a big lesson that taught us all that a political party went all the way evening killing Retaining Officer of Kanyama Constituency grabbing votes. This will not happen. Indeed will not be allowed. This time, all Special branches headed by Special Unity country wide will be on alert. We all know what happened in 2016 and we have learnt a lesson. There will be no laxity. We could have lost a good leader from 2016 onwards.
I’m getting fed with LT.
Why do you publish this type of nonsense all the time.
You have now just become the propaganda mouthpiece for people who are anti government and have resorted to sensationalist lies.
There not a shred of evidence to support what he says.
I have lost faith in you as a publication, please print stories that are factual.
Some people think that developing a nation is cadabracadabra!!!
They formed government without an economic framework ….hoping that foreigners will flock to Zambia to drive economic development. The result is what Zambians are experiencing. No they’re dead scared to face the same people who voted for them.