The Twin-Engined King Kasongo
By Dr. Field C. Ruwe
Hakainde Hichilema Taunting Zambians
King Kasongo is the bold and reckless warthog featured in various viral YouTube videos, known for its ability to evade dangerous situations, and outrun lions with speeds of 30-35 mph (48-50 km/h) propelled by a “V16 turbo engine.” The videos, some juxtaposed with the song “Kasongo” composed by Orchestra Super Mazembe create a “Warthog versus Lions,” scenario in which the obstinate King Kasongo emerges as the “new King of the Savannah.”
In launching the 2026 Hunt for Successor series, the videos featuring King Kasongo are employed as a metaphorical tool to emphasize the reckless political semantics and ramifications tied to President Hakainde Hichilema. His shrewd and audacious “Us versus Them” strategy is testing the patience and forbearance of Zambians. Various groups, including Generation Z, the opposition, religious leaders, social media influencers, political activists, and the general discourse describe Hichilema’s style of governing as deeply disturbing and indicative of catastrophic consequences.
The dominant national narrative suggests that, having admitted he has failed to end load-shedding, and to alter the trajectory of poverty over the past four years, Hichilema’s stronghold is no longer the vision of a thriving self-sufficient Zambia. Instead, it has shifted to the hijacking of the multiparty democratic process through tribal politics and constitution manipulation. Much like King Kasongo, Hichilema has his V16 turbo engine firing on all cylinders, zigzagging and taunting Zambians with calculated recklessness intended to confuse them with his “Us versus Them” mentality.
In one of the “Warthog versus Lions” videos, King Kasongo audaciously rattles the established hierarchy of the animal kingdom by ploughing headfirst into a group of male lions lounging beneath a tree. His bold act causes them to scatter in fear, interrupting their serenity. As some lions chase after him, he bravely challenges them to a game of “catch me if you can,” racing at speeds surpassing 30 mph, weaving to disorient them, and swiftly reversing into a burrow, thus earning himself the designation of “King of the Savannah.”
In the like manner, feeling empowered and as egocentric as King Kasongo, Hichilema is seizing on the moral integrity of Zambians; a people who are as patient as the lions shown in the videos; a people known for their earned multiparty democracy, peaceful transition of power, and a poly-ethnic culture that blossoms under the banner of “One Zambia One Nation.” Political analysts label him as an egocentric leader who is undermining the intelligence of Zambians. He thinks Zambians are politically ignorant, disengaged, vulnerable to manipulation and too patient to care.
Evolutionary history indicates that all species exhibit and exploit tribalism to gain and maintain power. Upon recognizing his capacity to intimidate the world’s apex predators, King Kasongo has developed excessive confidence in his unmerited power. He has established an in-group with his fellow warthogs and initiated cooperative partnerships with meerkats for mutual defense. Lately, a meerkat can be seen perched on King Kasongo’s back in a symbiotic relationship, acting as a lookout for potential dangers.
Similarly, following his inauguration, the overconfident Hichilema, who hoodwinked Zambians, particularly Generation Z, into casting their vote for him in 2021, abandoned the foundational principle of national unity encapsulated in the motto “One Zambia One Nation.” Instead, he unveiled the UPND scheme, which outlines a strategy for transforming Zambian politics through a lens of “Us versus Them” mentality.
It has been noted that Hichilema indulged in tribal politics during the coalition established in 2011 between his United Party for National Development (UPND) and Michael Sata’s Patriotic Front (PF) party. His notion of “Us versus Them” played a significant role in the collapse of the alliance. Members of the PF accused him of surrounding himself with individuals from his Tonga tribe in an effort to maintain the UPND quota system, which sought to position a Tonga in State House.
Immediately following his victory in the 2021 presidential election, Hichilema turned to tribal politics as a means to strengthen his authority. He initiated this process by referencing Harry Nkumbula’s Bantu Botatwe classical strategy, which involved garnering support from the Tonga, Ila, Lenje, and several affiliated tribes in the Zambezi region. It was through this tribal unity that Hichilema formed the bulk of his in-group and appointed the most number of ministers, civil servants, and diplomats.
Hichilema’s in-group included his Principal Private Secretary, Bradford Machila, who is considered the brain behind Hichilema and the advocate of the “Tonga First” precept. Others included his attack dog Jack Mwiimbu, who holds the position of Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs Mulambo Haimbe, who was Minister of Justice at that time.
In an autocratic rule, the aforementioned ministries are crucial for the consolidation of power. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security acts as Hichilema’s main instrument for upholding total control by quelling dissent, surveilling the populace, imprisoning political opponents, and solidifying his authority through an extensive internal security network.
The Ministry of Justice facilitates Hichilema’s governance through decrees, undermining constitutional norms. He is currently exploiting the ministry as a tool to prolong his tenure beyond the established two-term limit. This tactic is swiftly unfolding via the annulled amendment of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, which has successfully progressing to the second reading in parliament.
By stubbornly enforcing unpopular agenda on Zambians, Hichilema mirrors King Kasongo, who has, until now, disrupted the lion kingdom and usurped control. Aware the lions’ relative inability to oppose him, King Kasongo has bolstered his audacity to solidify his dominion. Consequently, his power has impaired his ability to acknowledge the lions’ desire for peace. He now engages in perilous behavior, such as releasing firecrackers, sounding truck horns, and dropping hornet nests on the lions, to incite and intimidate. What King Kasongo does not understand is that while each provocation may provide a feel of victory, it may inevitably lead to his downfall.
As for Hichilema, he exudes confidence in his ability to denigrate the intelligence of Zambians. Driven by a high level of autocracy, he has become increasingly unable to appreciate the perspectives of Zambians and comprehending their emotions. After acknowledging his failures, he has resorted to rhetorical strategies to influence the emotions and behavior of Zambians. His primary aim is to undermine the institutions designed to uphold democratic governance, and transform Zambia into a one-party state.
It is at this point I enter the ring of fire. The 2026 Hunt for Successor articles serve as a pressing appeal for Zambians to reclaim their democratic multiparty system by contesting Hichilema’s pursuit of a second term. This initiation establishes the framework and suggests forthcoming articles. The central figure is Hakainde Hichilema, whose actions and choices will propel the narrative and whose shortcomings will be exposed. The objective of the series is to identify the appropriate presidential candidate capable of guiding Generation Z into the future.
In composing the 2026 Hunt articles, I remain profoundly cognizant of the severe ramifications. By instituting the Cyber Security Act No.3 of 2025 alongside the Cyber Crimes Act No.4, Hichilema has effectively set traps designed to stifle Generation Z, and eliminate academics, opposition leaders, journalists, human rights advocates, critics, and individuals who dare to speak truth to power. Should we fail to emphasize the crucial safeguarding of our multiparty democracy and the rule of law, it is entirely possible that Hichilema will fulfill his dream.
Please Note: I am a scholar. There is a misconception that writing academic papers is the only scholarly traditional metric. A scholar is fundamentally an academic who raises epistemological concerns, indulges in critical thinking, and has deep expertise in a particular subject. The Oxford Dictionary, along with the broader academic community, defines a scholar as an intellectual possessing a doctorate degree. I am affiliated with Northeastern University, Boston, USA. Ruwe©2025
OK ba Fred. Scholars should n’t bore us with encyclopedic length articles. They should consult journalists to edit them articles to the journalistic length.
“Long enough to cover the essentials and brief enough to retain the interest” is a well known phrase in journalistic parlance.
Kikikikiki! Ba Columnist,
my comments on Dr Ruwe’s article have nothing to do with latitude and impartiality. I wasn’t affected by the lack or presence of one or the other. I was merely advising him to be more “journalistic” than academic.
Thus my advice to hand his script to an editor/journalist.
What you are defining as journalists are actually reporters. Journalism is so broad it includes columnists, reporters, producers, editors, sub-editors, presenters, anchors, floor managers, Executive Producers, camera people, etc
@Uwatambile Baskopo. The concept of a “real journalist” generally refers to reporters and their editors who adhere to core ethical standards of journalism. The rest you parade are auxiliary journalists by virtue of their connection to the profession, e.g. Camera people, anchors, presenters, floor managers and executive producers. Bear in mind, journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the “news of the day” and that informs society to at least some degree of accuracy. The one who gather this information is called a REPORTER.
There’s no such thing as a ‘real journalist’. Should nt that then allow for a false journalist? Along that route, Who wants to buy a false newspaper?
Uwatambile Baskopo you seem to be reading the wrong article if you were LOOKING FOR News!!!
Mind you, if you haven’t been following the News trends, more & more has AI employed as you can pick up syntax & grammatical errors for like-sounding words – so your desire for “journalistic excellence” is probably a lost cause, as more & more journalists are laid off & billionaire news corps take over, whose sole purpose is profit rather than feeding you the truth!!!
@Uwatambile Baskopo. There is a difference between a journalist and a columnist. A colummist like Dr. Ruwe has more lattitude that a reporter and is not constrained by the rule of impartiality that governs journalistic writing and editing rules. Journalists report the news. They gather information about an event, then write an article under the eyes of the editor. A columnist is an opinion writer or reviewer who offers analysis often in a longer article than that of a journalist., like in the case of the one here.
.
Nevertheless its still BLAH BLAH BLAH to the majoriy
Precisely the reason an article should be given to a journalist before publication.
The journalist is trained to keep the reader interested, thus his infatuation with the inverted pyramid(and it’s cousins) . The academic speaks to intellectual audiences who will lock in to logical presentation, expression of thought, etc, they are not interested in figures of speech and stuff like hyperboles. Every stance you adopt must have rationale. In news facts are the main driver and intellectualisation should be attributed.
Yes, After journalistic treatment it won’t be blah blah blah
@ Columnist-in-chief. (1) A traditional journalist does not keep the story interesting. He accurately reports it precisely the way it happened. (2) I think Dr. Ruwe’s article is academic because he is addressing Zambia’s intellectual audience. His article is indeed academic because of its allegorical approach that you may have missed in your quest for “an interesting story.” I believe he did so because intellectuals play a pivotal role in critical moments such the ones Zambia is currently facing.
@Uwatambile Baskopo. A journalist writes in short paragraphs (2-4 setences). A column paragraph can vary in length (2-8 sentences). The problem is most Zambian readers cannot finish a paragraph.
@Tikki. It reflects a poor Zambian education system. A lot of Zambians cannot read and understand New York Times or the Washington Post columns. The will say it is BLAH, BLAH, BLAH for the majority.
C in chief, No,
A lot of Zambians cannot read and understand the newspapers you quote because they(the Zambians) are outside these publications’ target market. Naturally, outside news, the articles of any publication are usually culturalised.
So one can’t expect someone in a different environment to follow things like figuratives, ethnocentrisms, nuances and slang. This doesn’t mean those not following are dumb. They are just, mostly, outside the t. market. Zambians or Africans not following W. post or other American publications need not think they are behind. Such feelings just open africa up for mental slavery.
@Uwatambile Baskopo and @Tikki. The absence of reading materials, lack of basic domestic needs, and disinterestedness of the people in reading are additional historical factors that have contributed to low reading culture in Zambia. That’s why uncouth politicians like Hakiande are using vage language to justify Bill 7. Very few people fully understand the repurcations.
The main thing with writing of any kind is that it has to be interesting enough to be worth reading. Otherwise it’s not worth reading anyhow you see. Are the wathogs in the room with us right now by the way
Not true. A journalist isn’t separated from a columnist.
Journalism is the broader definition of the industry or profession. Journalists include news reporters and columnists. Columnists are supposed to rationally sway you to their viewpoints. That’s why bias is allowed in columns.
Reporters present facts, trying by all means not to be biased. In fact in electronic(radio, TV, Internet) journalism, reporters are separated from presenters. Presenters may not be journalists but journalism training greatly helps
@Media Lecturer, No sir, a BIG NOO! If you have been teaching your students what you outline in your comments, then you have been misleading them. Agreed, a reporter can write both an article and a column. But while he can write a column, he is constrained by the code of ethics that clearly states that journalists should keep their opinions private because their job is a matter of FACT. On the other hand, opinion columns aren’t journalism. They are a matter of intentions, skills, and execution. If indeed you are a media lecturer, you should bear that in mind. If you did not learn codes of conduct in journalism then you should stop teaching journalism.
I don’t think you’ve understood his post. He is a perfectly good communication lecturer
@Dred. Don’t bluff.How do you know him/her just by moniker? You are the same “Media Lecturer.”
@Dred, I’m her colleague and I agree with you.
Me three
@Vaux and Journalist. You are the same Media lecturer. This could be UPND press attache in foreign service
@Vaux and @Journalist. Indeed the counter to Dr. Ruwe’s article could be the work of UPND press attaches in the UK, France and South Africa. They seem to be working in tendum. They know each others non-de-plum (Nick names).
Discipleship I s important
The author is just a buffoonery dream, who sounds as if he is sharing the room with pigs away across the river.
The author is just a buffoonery dreamer,who sounds as if he is sharing the room with pigs away across the river
Just as concerned citizen is the col in chief.
Viva UPND for excellently confusing the masses!
The comments here make me understand why journalism in Zambia is below par. A media practitioner in foreign service cannot tell the difference between a reporter and a columnist–between fact and opinion and has no idea what ethical codes of journalism are. It is the reason embassies are ivory towers and a waste of Zambian tax payer’s money.