President Hakainde Hichilema has urged citizens to adopt a more disciplined and forward-driven mindset, warning that Zambia cannot afford to repeat behaviours that previously pushed the country into heavy debt and economic setbacks. Speaking during an address on Friday, the President reflected on Zambia’s leadership history and noted that each administration had contributed to different stages of national progress, but the gains were often lost due to recurring habits and poor long-term discipline.
He said the country has a pattern in which major problems are solved, but people quickly forget the lessons and return to actions that undo earlier progress. According to the President, this cycle contributed to Zambia’s return to a high debt burden after the country had once achieved near-relief levels under late President Levy Mwanawasa’s tenure.
He noted that Zambia spent three of the last four years working to secure debt restructuring, a process he said could have been avoided if the country had maintained prudent management after benefiting from earlier debt clearance. The President added that the time invested in repairing the debt situation could have been used to advance development programmes, strengthen services, and expand the economy.
During his address, the President outlined how Zambia’s past leaders had each guided the nation through different phases. He cited former presidents Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa, Rupiah Banda, Michael Sata and Edgar Lungu. He said the country’s challenge has been the tendency to rise for a period and later slip back through choices that repeat earlier mistakes. He called on citizens to recognise the weight of such decisions and help the country maintain a consistent upward path.
The President said negative patterns often come from ignoring lessons learned during earlier periods of hardship. He urged the public to pay closer attention to measures being implemented in areas such as digital expansion, education and skills access. He highlighted the introduction of Starlink internet as one example of infrastructure aimed at reducing the gap between rural and urban learners. He said many initiatives have been rolled out to bring more opportunities to communities that had previously been left behind.
He reflected on his own upbringing, saying he grew up in a rural setting with limited access to basic services and had to adapt quickly when he first moved to Lusaka for university. He told young people to appreciate the expanded access they now have to digital tools, schooling and wider exposure. He said these openings can transform communities if used well.
The President said the country must “grow up” and avoid repeating costly mistakes. He added that national unity and a shared sense of purpose are central to reducing economic risks and moving Zambia to a more stable future.
He encouraged citizens to pursue growth, embrace fairness across regions, and use every opportunity available to contribute to national progress. He said the country’s path forward depends on a more responsible mindset anchored on learning from past errors and choosing choices that strengthen the nation rather than weaken it.
