HH goes nuclear on Bill 7 rebels as campaign enters defining phase

President Hakainde Hichilema stood before hundreds of supporters at Solwezi Airport on Saturday and did something no Zambian president had done so openly in recent memory.

He named names. Gary Nkombo. Elijah Muchima. Elias Mubanga. Newton Samakayi.

Four former members of his own party’s parliamentary team, publicly identified by the President as having voted against Bill 7 and, by extension, against what he described as one of the UPND’s most important legislative undertakings since taking office.

The declaration, delivered with visible anger and unmistakable finality, transformed what had long been whispered about in political circles into a matter of public record. It also marked the clearest indication yet that the ruling party is prepared to confront internal dissent openly as the campaign gathers momentum.

What had been billed as a working visit to North-Western Province quickly evolved into a defining political moment.

Addressing supporters at the airport, Mr Hichilema said he wanted MPs who supported the party’s programme in Parliament, voted in line with government priorities and understood that their mandate formed part of a broader collective agenda. He said there was little value in electing individuals on a party ticket only for them to oppose key legislation once in office.

“We have four MPs who refused to vote for Bill 7. And I will name them. Gary Nkombo, Elijah Muchima, Newton Samakayi and Elias Mubanga. We don’t want MPs like that,” Mr Hichilema said.

The remarks drew one of the strongest reactions of the afternoon, not simply because names were mentioned, but because of what Bill 7 represented to the ruling party.

For the UPND, the constitutional amendment was more than another piece of legislation moving through Parliament. It was the vehicle through which the government sought to introduce proportional representation seats reserved for women, youths and persons with disabilities. The proposal also created new constituencies in Solwezi, Kalumbila, Mwinilunga and Zambezi, a move the government argued would bring representation closer to communities experiencing rapid population growth.

Although the bill ultimately passed, it did so after the ruling party was forced to seek support beyond its own benches.

According to Mr Hichilema, the votes lost through internal opposition left the government dependent on lawmakers from outside the UPND to secure passage of the measure.

“Because of Bill 7, and because of those who had to behave properly, and we didn’t have enough MPs, we had to use MPs from other parties in order to win Bill 7 to bring women, to bring youth and those with disabilities in Parliament. That is a mistake we don’t want to make going forward,” he said.

The President’s comments suggested that the Bill 7 episode remains one of the most frustrating moments of his administration’s legislative programme.

While the speech focused on four MPs, the mention of Gary Nkombo carried particular political weight.

For years, Mr Nkombo stood among the most recognisable figures in the UPND and played a central role in the party’s journey from opposition to government. As Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, he occupied one of the most influential positions in Cabinet and was widely viewed as one of the President’s closest political allies.

His public naming in Solwezi therefore represented more than a disagreement over a single vote. It served as the clearest confirmation yet of the deep political rupture that has emerged between the former minister and the party leadership.

Whatever uncertainty remained over the state of that relationship was largely swept away by Saturday’s remarks.

Despite the sharp criticism, Mr Hichilema framed the issue as one of accountability rather than personal differences.

He argued that elected representatives who secure office through a party platform carry a responsibility to advance the programme on which voters elected them. In his view, loyalty to that mandate remains essential if a governing party is to implement its policies effectively.

Those who choose a different path, he suggested, cannot expect to remain central to the party’s future plans.

The President used the occasion to rally supporters behind adopted candidates and urged members to place party unity above local disagreements.

He reminded the gathering that North-Western Province occupies a special place in the history of the UPND and said maintaining cohesion within the party remained critical as campaigning intensifies across the country.

“If you are not happy with one candidate, just think of the President and support them for the sake of the President,” he said.

The appeal reflected a broader message running throughout the address: unity, discipline and collective purpose.

North-Western Province UPND chairperson Adam Sapezo, who also addressed the gathering, assured the President of continued support from party structures in the province. He said the visit had energised members and reinforced the importance of presenting a united front during the campaign period.

From Solwezi, Mr Hichilema proceeded to Muchinga Province, where he met party officials and adopted candidates in Chinsali as part of the day’s programme.

Yet it was the Solwezi speech that dominated political discussion long after the President had departed.

Rarely does a sitting Head of State publicly single out members of his own political movement with such directness. By naming the four MPs himself, Mr Hichilema removed any ambiguity about where he stands on the Bill 7 rebellion and what he expects from those seeking to serve under the UPND banner.

The message was unmistakable.

For a party preparing for another national contest, loyalty to the programme is no longer being treated as an assumption. It is being presented as a requirement.

And after Saturday’s declaration in Solwezi, few within the ruling party can claim not to understand the President’s position on the matter.