We give him another 20 years – wishes Snr Chief Shakumbila

We give him another 20 years – wishes Snr Chief Shakumbila

Senior Chief Shakumbila strongly praised President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, crediting his administration with restoring peace and delivering policies that many Zambians once considered impossible, while openly expressing his personal wish for the President to continue in office for a much longer period.

Speaking during a public engagement, Chief Shakumbila said Zambia is “now better” under President Hichilema, attributing the improvement to policy clarity, national stability, and a renewed sense of direction. He described the President as a leader with long-term plans who should not be disrupted by frequent political transitions.

“We are so lucky to have President Hakainde Hichilema as President because Zambia is now better,” the Chief said. “If it were up to me, I would say we give this young man another 20 years to put his plans properly.”

Chief Shakumbila went further, questioning the necessity of frequent elections when, in his view, a leader is performing well and delivering tangible results. He said interrupting such leadership risks confusing a President who has come with clear and workable plans for national development.

“If it were me, I would say elections, we give him another 20 years,” he said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with that. We don’t need to confuse somebody who has come with better plans.”

His remarks, while framed as a personal opinion, have drawn attention because of their direct reference to extending leadership beyond constitutionally prescribed electoral cycles. The comments come at a time when debates around governance, democracy, and term limits remain sensitive in Zambia’s political discourse.

Chief Shakumbila anchored much of his praise on the introduction of free education, a policy he said had long disappeared from the national imagination. He recalled that many Zambians had stopped believing free education was achievable, only for it to be implemented under the current administration.

“No one in Zambia knew that one day we shall have free education,” he said. “People were saying, where is he going to get the money from? They said this boy is a dreamer, that he is cheating people. But now it is working.”

He said the programme has given families across the country renewed hope, particularly in rural areas where school fees had previously locked many children out of education. According to the Chief, free education has restored opportunity and dignity to households that once saw schooling as a privilege rather than a right.

“I believe every Zambian is happy to have free education,” he said, adding that the policy empowers those who want to continue with school while leaving the choice with individuals. “Those who want to continue, they can continue.”

Beyond education, Chief Shakumbila also highlighted peace and security as defining features of the current period. He said Zambia is now calm, with citizens able to move freely without fear or intimidation.

“There is peace now in the country,” he said. “Everywhere you go, you don’t expect anybody to attack you. Everybody enjoys that.”

Supporters of the government often cite peace and improved civic space as evidence of progress since the change of administration. Traditional leaders in several regions have echoed similar sentiments, pointing to reduced political tension and improved relations between state institutions and communities.

However, the Chief’s suggestion that elections could be deferred to allow leadership continuity intersects with constitutional principles that firmly establish term limits and regular elections as cornerstones of Zambia’s democracy. Legal experts and civil society groups have consistently maintained that while performance can be debated, constitutional order must remain intact.

Chief Shakumbila did not frame his remarks as a call for constitutional change but as an expression of admiration for what he sees as effective leadership and policy delivery. Nonetheless, his comments illustrate how development outcomes can shape political attitudes beyond formal party structures.

As Zambia moves toward the 2026 general elections, endorsements and opinions from traditional leaders are likely to continue influencing national conversation, even as debates about democracy, leadership continuity, and constitutionalism intensify.

Chief Shakumbila closed his remarks by reiterating his belief that progress should not be interrupted, framing continuity as a practical response to results rather than a political manoeuvre.