Zambians Struggle Quietly as Pressures Mount, Says M’membe

Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe says Zambians are experiencing deep and widening economic pain, but many are responding with silence rather than open protest, a situation he warns should not be mistaken for comfort or acceptance.

He says households across the country are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living, including higher food prices, transport fares, fuel costs, and other basic expenses that form the backbone of daily life. According to M’membe, the pressure is being felt across income levels, but is most severe among low-income earners, informal workers, and the unemployed.

M’membe says the gap between household income and daily expenses has continued to widen, forcing families to adopt survival strategies that mask the extent of hardship. These include reducing meal portions, delaying rent and utility payments, withdrawing children from certain activities, and postponing medical treatment. In many cases, extended family networks have become the main safety net.

In urban centres, transport costs have emerged as a major burden, consuming a significant portion of monthly income for workers who rely on public transport. Food prices, particularly for essential staples, have continued to strain household budgets, leaving little room for savings or emergencies. For many families, daily spending decisions are now driven by necessity rather than choice.

Rural communities face a different but equally severe set of challenges. Agricultural households are grappling with rising input costs, limited access to markets, and unpredictable earnings tied to weather patterns and seasonal demand. In some areas, income from farming no longer covers basic household needs, forcing families to rely on remittances or casual labour.

M’membe says unemployment and underemployment, particularly among young people, have compounded the situation. Many households depend on a single income earner to support several dependants, increasing vulnerability when that income is disrupted or stretched thin. He notes that young people without stable employment remain a growing source of economic pressure within families.

He argues that public silence does not reflect satisfaction, but rather exhaustion and resignation. In his view, many citizens no longer believe that speaking out will produce immediate relief, leading them to focus on survival instead of collective action. This fatigue, he says, explains why hardship is often discussed privately rather than expressed openly.

Healthcare access has also been affected by financial pressure. Some families delay seeking medical attention due to cost, while others rely on informal remedies or community assistance. Education expenses continue to weigh heavily on parents and guardians, with uniforms, supplies, and transport costs stretching already limited resources.

M’membe says silence should not be interpreted as stability. Prolonged hardship without meaningful relief, he warns, can deepen frustration beneath the surface. When economic pressure persists without visible improvement, public calm may conceal growing discontent rather than genuine confidence.

He says leadership must pay attention to lived realities rather than relying on the absence of protests or public outcry as a measure of success. Addressing economic pressure, he argues, requires acknowledging the hardship citizens are experiencing and responding to it directly.

M’membe says Zambians are not silent because they are unaffected, but because many feel trapped between rising costs and limited options. Without deliberate efforts to ease pressure on households, quiet endurance may continue even as conditions worsen across communities.