By Venus N Msyani
In a democracy, scrutiny is not a threat; it’s a necessity. President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent remarks equating public criticism with hatred risk mischaracterizing legitimate dissent as something malicious. It’s a disservice not only to the critics but to the democratic ideals that brought him to power.
On June 24, 2025, during a meeting with civil society organizations, President Hichilema lamented that, unlike his predecessors, he is viewed with suspicion and malice. His remarks came in response to widespread criticism over his administration’s intent to amend the Zambian Constitution ahead of next year’s general elections. He expressed frustration, claiming that previous administrations amended the constitution during election years without facing the same backlash.
While it’s true that UNIP, MMD, and PF each altered the constitution during their time, it’s misleading to invoke these precedents as a justification. Zambians elected Hichilema not to replicate the past, but to break from it, to fix what was broken, not to follow the same path.
Amending the constitution in an election year is a sensitive and consequential act. Citizens have every right to question its timing and motive. That’s not hatred; it’s democratic engagement, which should be welcomed, not condemned.
The president’s claim that he is judged differently, or more harshly, raises concerns. Whether intended or not, it implies that criticism may be driven by personal or even regional bias. This kind of narrative is dangerous. It shifts attention away from policy substance and toward emotional deflection. It invites division when what the country needs is unity.
Critics are not attacking President Hichilema because of who he is; they are challenging what he’s doing. That distinction matters. When citizens raise their voices, they do so out of a desire to protect democratic processes, not to undermine them.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Hichilema’s administration has deflected criticism by pointing to past governments. This “they did it too” defense dilutes accountability and contradicts the spirit of change that Hichilema promised. It’s not leadership, it’s deflection.
Zambia must not normalize constitutional manipulation as part of its political cycle. If every administration justifies its actions based on historical precedent rather than principle, then progress becomes impossible. We end up in a loop, amending, undoing, amending again, without ever strengthening the foundation of our democracy.
To be clear: the opposition to constitutional amendments is not a personal attack on the president. It’s a call for caution, transparency, and long-term thinking. Zambians don’t hate their leaders; they hold them accountable. It’s a legacy of civic responsibility that should be honored, not misinterpreted.
President Hichilema has a rare opportunity to lead differently, to break the cycle, to build trust through humility and open dialogue. But that will only happen if he hears criticism not as an insult, but as an invitation to improve.
Democracy flourishes not when voices are silenced, but when they are heard. Scrutiny is not a threat in a healthy democracy; it’s a necessity. President Hakainde Hichilema has the wrong interpretation. Criticism is not synonymous with hatred.
Your premise is wrong in the sense that it is one sided. You provided a one sided argument in favor of the critics. Why didn’t Zambians stand up to correcting the previous governments on constitutional amendments? You didn’t even try to answer that question. You’ve dismissed HH’s argument without explaining his viewpoint. Balance your writing, apply comparative analysis, otherwise you’re doing the same thing that you’re saying HH is doing. Just looking at things from your own perspective.
Why didn’t Zambians protest in the previous government’s amendments to the constitution if the methods were wrong? But somehow today UPND is wrong in doing the same exact things? Common sense doesn’t tell you that UPND had the audacity to do it because there is precedent? It’s common sense! Do you think if Zambians had protested in the previous attempts that UPND could have done the same thing? Use logic, not emotions or political persuasion.
Gary Ndhlovu
If you did not see the protests, complaints and cries, then you must be like those that have eyes but fail to see.
Past presidents may have succeeded in constitutional changes, but did not have it easily. We don’t need to be reminded by the president about how inferior he thinks see or rate himself. He must have confidence in himself as he headon faces several other tasks that lie ahead of him.
We love him. But we mustn’t fall back when it comes to calling him out if he sidetracks.
I’m also wondering about this Gary Ndhlovu’s faculties of perception. He only sees what he wants to see. He couldnt see the UPND opposing this Bill? and winning, right here at Manda Hill in Lusaka!
Somehow today UPND is wrong in doing the same exact things? Common sense doesn’t tell you that UPND had the audacity to do it because there is precedent? It’s common sense! Do you think if Zambians had protested in the previous attempts that UPND could have done the same thing? Use logic, not emotions or political persuasion.
The argument that we voted to break the cycle is extremely unrealistic. Imagine you had a child that is naughty and he is in and out of prison. Then you have another child after and you tell the younger child you’re disappointed with him because you expected him to break the cycle of his brother’s behavior, that’s a far fetched unrealistic assumption and expectations. There is completely no logic in that whatsoever. IT SIMPLY SHOWS YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT STANDARD FOR THIS CHILD WHICH YOU DID NOT APPLY TO THE OLDER CHILD.
Wife: Is this hatred genuine? I have lived with you for so many years, and I have seen you to be a very good man. So where is this hatred coming from?
Husband: I don’t know..
The husband’s exact words were more of regional or ethnic connotation than of national character.
He said, ‘It’s okay. It is alright. It comes with the territory’.
With great power, comes greater responsibility.
The president is our servant. Giving us a service. If he chooses to be our master, he loses relevance. In the end he thinks he is hated when citizens are only calling for accountability and responsibleness. Leader_SHEEP is not easy. It requires self discipline, selflessness and self restraint, slowness to anger and willingness to be criticized. Less obvious but no less true, our lovely cherished spouses must too be objective advisors.
Are the roosters finally coming home to roost ??
The chickens’ actions have consequences. We reap that which we planted in the fields.
Ba President is a disappointment sometimes. We criticize you and you cry foul claiming its because of your region? He says this in front of several leaders of CSOs who also challenged Bill 10 alongside him when he was in opposition.
I feel like HH is very used to praise whenever he goes and he does get it from his appointees at State House and his cabinet and cadres and finds it hurtful when the rest of us challenge him.
Mr. President, grow up!
You Its not the region It’s the character and attitude issue
Tikki, I did say HE claims its region. It is a character flaw.
Sorry it is a serious flaw
Its village products who always see others-and themselves- according to tribe even when its clearly not so. If people hated him because he is Tonga how come he got the majority votes? The majority constituencies are not in Tongaland. Did he fix the election?
The man got a sympathy vote, against PF tyranny. He shouted ‘you hate me, you hate me, because …. His supporters shouted ‘why do you hate this man?’ give a chance to be president. Unfortunately for HH and UPND supporter this magic phrase “You hate me’ will not work. He will have to be accountable to us, the voters. We shall not critique your persona but your acts
HH is the most protected president we have ever had. His praise singers shield him from wrong doing. In the past when a person was shot by a police officer, the president was blamed for having killed. Even in his death ECL is still being blamed for those who died during his rule at the hands of the police and thugs. You cannot blame HH for the wrongs of his administration. They will always argue he is not responsible etc
HH is the most protected president we have ever had. His praise singers shield him from wrong doing. In the past when a person was shot by a police officer, the president was blamed for having killed. Even in his death ECL is still being blamed for those who died during his rule at the hands of the police and thugs. You cannot blame HH for the wrongs of his administration. They will always argue he is not responsible etc
VERY WELL WRITTEN: CLEAR, PRECISE AND CONCISE! The President and his advisors should read and understand this article.
The government should look at the fact that there could be criticism as a success that is exactly what you want your pupulation to be able to do and some of criticism will be justified sometimes not but that’s the whole point of democracy well done HH.
The death of President E. C. Lungu is a great catastrophe impacting on the Zambian nation, the SADC region, Africa and the rest of the world. A few years ago, Zambians positively responded to a flooding catastrophe that affected Mozambique by donating funds to alleviate pains inflicted on our neighbouring country. In the mid-1980s, Zambia students contributed to raising money geared to free our beloved Nelson Mandela. In this regard, people of good will can contribute financially, on humanitarian grounds, to raise money to help the Lungu family meet legal costs and upkeep in South Africa. Bank accounts can be opened by credible institutions in Zambia and several African countries for people to deposit money aimed at offsetting the suffering of ECL’s Lungu. MHSRIEP. God help us.
Iwe Mwansa Kabinga where have you got this dumb idea from? Hell? That must be where the poor are made to pay for the wealthy to live in comfort. In Zambia Esther and her lot will have to foot their own bills to defend themselves.
The death of President E. C. Lungu is a great catastrophe impacting on the Zambian nation, the SADC region, Africa and the rest of the world. A few years ago, Zambians positively responded to a flooding catastrophe that affected Mozambique by donating funds to alleviate pains inflicted on our neighbouring country. In the mid-1980s, Zambia students based in UK contributed to raising money geared to free our beloved Nelson Mandela. In this regard, people of good will can contribute financially, on humanitarian grounds, to raise money to help the Lungu family meet legal costs and upkeep in South Africa. Bank accounts can be opened by credible institutions in Zambia and several African countries for people to deposit money aimed at offsetting the suffering of ECL’s Lungu. MHSRIEP. God help us.
Why must we the people take care of this
tell the president to put his hatered aside and do the right thing
He should not attach T & C’s either
This is how Zambians are. They do not look at a person by the nature of his character. They always look at where he comes from. The president should remember what happened when he facilitated a trip of of some Chiefs to travel travel to South Africa to mourn a South African Chief Butelezi. Wen they came back to Zambia and were at State House, they told the President that he should work work with ECL. For the Zambians, those that think they are the real Zambians, they do not mind about what you are doing but where you come from.
Which Zambians? Talk about yourselves you villagers. I am from the Copperbelt and where your chief’s palace is situated, played no part in my upbringing. I have never even been to the so called village having hob knobbed from Ndola to Luanshya, to Kitwe to Mufulira and Lusaka all my life. On the CB we dont vote for people because of where they come from. Just go and check our poll results from 1964. Now you villagers want to drag us back to the stone age. Keep these retarded thoughts in Bweengwa, Lumezi and the likes Next election we are voting for Urban candidates
If it walks like a duck , sounds like a duck……..
Hell , yes it must be a duck……..
There are many tribal supremacists still reeling from the PF electoral loss, there are many who still are wondering how they are being ruled by a cattle herder from bwengwa……..
But statecraft continues, the benefits of the current hulla about the constitution is……….
The opposition are too busy fighting mere cosmetic changes, while………
UPND are collecting electoral results
We are here
FWD2041
Constitutional changes should only be done dispassionately, free of political bias and far future in mind as opposed to electoral cycles.
Only a referendum can achieve that ,let’s pull the rug from these selfish politicians .