HH warns Zambia will not return to violent political culture

President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated that Zambia will not revisit the turbulent political climate associated with violence and confrontational mobilisation, saying the country’s future depends on maintaining a stable and peaceful civic environment. He delivered the remarks during the Evangelical Church in Zambia’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the Matero congregation in Lusaka, where he joined church members for the commemorative service.

Hichilema said Zambia’s democracy has matured because citizens have consistently chosen dialogue over confrontation. He noted that periods of political tension in previous years created anxiety among residents, disrupted local economic activities and strained relationships within communities. According to him, the country should learn from these experiences and avoid behaviour that undermines public safety or disturbs daily activities in neighbourhoods.

He told congregants that political violence affects citizens who are not always involved in disputes. He said confrontations often interfere with trading, schooling and household responsibilities, adding that they divert attention from development needs in communities. Maintaining peace, he said, is therefore not only a governance issue but a practical necessity for families across the country.

Hichilema emphasised that every Zambian has a responsibility to preserve order. He said individuals must reject calls for confrontational actions that threaten public safety or disturb community life. He urged citizens to speak up when they see behaviour that may escalate tensions, noting that peace is preserved when communities collectively reject violence.

He also encouraged church leaders to continue supporting national conversations through balanced, factual guidance that helps citizens understand governance processes. He said institutions such as the church provide important platforms for reflection and dialogue, enabling people to participate constructively in issues affecting the country.

The President said constitutional and governance discussions should be approached calmly, with room for differing opinions. He said the ability to discuss sensitive matters without confrontation reflects the maturity of the country’s democratic systems. He stressed that constitutional engagement must take place in an atmosphere where citizens feel safe to express themselves.

He reminded congregants that Zambia’s progress is linked to its reputation for peace, which has made the country a stable destination for investment and regional cooperation. He said preserving this image requires all citizens, including political players, to prioritise responsible conduct over actions that fuel tension.

Hichilema noted that public order is central to efforts aimed at improving essential services and expanding economic opportunities. He explained that instability disrupts government programmes and limits support reaching communities. He said peaceful conduct helps sustain development initiatives meant to enhance livelihoods.

He urged political actors to guide their supporters toward respectful engagement. He said leadership must avoid encouraging emotions that heighten confrontation and instead promote discussions grounded in facts. Clear communication, he said, helps reduce misunderstandings that often cause unnecessary tension.

The President added that Zambia’s long-term aspirations rely on stable communities where people can work, trade and raise families in secure environments. He said past incidents of violence demonstrated how easily public order can be disrupted when political actors allow disagreements to escalate.

He concluded by encouraging Zambians to continue building a society where disputes are resolved through lawful channels. He said peaceful civic participation is essential to protecting the gains the country has made since independence and to ensuring future generations inherit a stable and united nation.a

Opposition MPs Accused of Accepting Payments to Support Bill 7

Dr. Shishuwa Shishuwa, a historian, writer, and academic with extensive credentials in African studies and political history, has raised concerns that several opposition Members of Parliament have privately committed to support Bill 7 in exchange for financial benefits or relief from possible legal action. His remarks came during a broadcast interview focused on the ongoing constitutional debate and the conduct of the executive.

According to Dr. Shishuwa, the executive has intensified efforts to secure the parliamentary votes required for Bill 7. He referred to the earlier Constitutional Court decision which found the previous process leading to the bill unconstitutional. The ruling, in his view, required two things: a public-driven process and the use of an independent expert body. Current steps, he said, do not reflect those conditions.

The committee appointed to review the constitutional matter was described by him as lacking independence, with its composition conflicting with the expectations set by the court. The continued presence of the bill in Parliament, despite the earlier judgment, was presented as evidence of a process that has not been realigned with the ruling. This, Dr. Shishuwa stated, created a strong push within the executive to gather additional support from MPs.

Financial incentives were at the centre of his allegations. Dr. Shishuwa reported that some MPs were approached and offered three million kwacha each to support Bill 7. The arrangement, according to accounts he received confidentially, involved an initial payment of one point five million kwacha before the vote and the balance after the vote. The information, he said, was provided by individuals with direct knowledge of the discussions.

Other MPs, he stated, were approached using unresolved legal matters. Files involving corruption-related issues and other serious offences were reportedly presented to certain legislators as leverage. In those situations, support for Bill 7 was described as a condition that could prevent prosecution. Dr. Shishuwa said several MPs agreed to back the bill after such engagements.

To improve public transparency, he recommended that the Oasis Forum request MPs to sign a clear commitment declaring that they would not support Bill 7. Legislators who decline to sign, he noted, would reveal their position through their refusal. Such a measure, in his view, would help citizens identify MPs willing to uphold constitutional responsibilities without external influence.

The internal landscape of the Patriotic Front was also highlighted. Dr. Shishuwa pointed to a fragmented structure consisting of factions linked to Given Lubinda, Brian Mundubile, Chabinga, and Makebi Zulu. These divisions, he said, have made the party vulnerable to external pressure and weakened its ability to take unified positions on national matters.

Two of the factions were described as having backing from state actors, a development he said increases internal strain and complicates the party’s capacity to respond to the constitutional issue. Such conditions, according to him, make targeted engagement with individual MPs easier for those seeking support for Bill 7.

The allegations, Dr. Shishuwa noted, reflect a broader concern about the vulnerability of MPs facing financial difficulties or unresolved legal issues. Citizens, he said, expect their representatives to act responsibly, and decisions made under private arrangements weaken public trust.

He urged the Oasis Forum to continue with its planned peaceful demonstration intended to deliver a petition on Bill 7 to the president. Postponing the event, he said, would support efforts to push the bill before the parliamentary recess. A peaceful march and formal delivery of concerns, he added, would give the public a clear opportunity to be heard.

Dr. Shishuwa encouraged citizens to follow the conduct of their representatives closely, noting that public attention remains essential as developments around Bill 7 continue.

 Zambia has officially moved out of external debt default after S&P Global Ratings upgraded the country’s long- and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘SD/SD’, with a stable outlook. The announcement marks a major milestone in the country’s economic recovery efforts.

S&P Global Ratings, a leading international credit assessment agency, evaluates the ability of governments and companies to meet their financial commitments. The upgrade signals renewed international confidence in Zambia’s economic reforms under the current administration.

According to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the new rating reflects steady fiscal discipline, strengthened policy credibility, and the government’s decisive actions to resolve the debt overhang that has constrained economic activity since 2020. It also highlights improvements in Zambia’s macroeconomic environment, driven by progress in external debt restructuring, resilience in the mining sector, and stabilizing inflation expectations.

S&P noted that Zambia has secured restructuring agreements with official and commercial creditors representing about 94 percent of eligible debt. Only a small portion—mostly held by commercial banks—remains under negotiation.

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane welcomed the development, calling it a strong vote of confidence in Zambia’s reform agenda and governance.

“It confirms that Zambia has moved out of default status and is steadily restoring its place as a credible, stable, and investable economy,” Dr. Musokotwane said.

He described the upgraded rating as recognition of the country’s pioneering role under the G20 Common Framework, noting that Zambia was one of the earliest countries to undertake the complex restructuring process.

“The upgrade is not only a recognition of economic progress, but a testament to the determination, discipline, and endurance of the government and the Zambian people,” he added.

Dr. Musokotwane emphasized that the rating supports the government’s strategy focusing on debt sustainability, export-led growth, stable macroeconomic management, improved governance, and expanded energy capacity. He said these reforms are aimed at delivering more jobs, stable prices, greater opportunities for youth and women, and broader economic participation by local businesses.

The government expressed appreciation to official and commercial creditors, cooperating partners, civil society, the private sector, and citizens for their support throughout the restructuring process. Their engagement, the ministry noted, helped put Zambia back on a sustainable economic path.

Going forward, the government reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal discipline, completion of remaining debt restructuring steps, expansion of energy capacity, stronger social protection programs, and support for private-sector-driven growth.

Zambia’s exit from default also underscores that risks from potential holdout creditors remain limited. This is due to safeguards such as the comparability-of-treatment principles under the G20 Common Framework and “most-favoured-creditor” clauses embedded in Eurobond agreements.

With the upgrade, Zambia is now positioned to gradually rebuild its global financial standing and pursue long-term economic prosperity.

Zambia’s Power Gap Stems From Years of Stagnant Investment, Says Siliya

Former Information Minister Dora Siliya says Zambia is facing a genuine electricity shortage caused by years of limited investment and rapid growth in national demand. She explained that the situation reflects a structural supply gap, not planned load management.

Dr Siliya linked the present deficit to long-term trends in the energy sector. She noted that Zambia’s electricity consumption per person peaked in the late 1980s before declining due to economic pressures. According to her, the country has not seen major improvements in per-capita consumption since then, despite a population that has more than doubled.

She stated that Zambia’s population has continued to grow at a steady pace while investment in new generation capacity has remained slow. She referenced recent ZESCO figures indicating that more than 200 megawatts have been added to residential connections since 2021, a development she said reflects how quickly household demand has expanded. She noted that daily consumption is now shaped by widespread use of phones, computers, entertainment devices and modern appliances that require power throughout the day.

Dr Siliya pointed to the country’s economic structure as another source of pressure. She said agriculture, mining, manufacturing and the service sector all depend on stable power supply, and that most businesses operate for longer hours than in the past. She added that many small enterprises run entirely on mobile devices or digital platforms, creating overlap between household and commercial electricity needs.

She explained that the traditional distinction between peak and off-peak hours has weakened because usage patterns have changed across the country. In her view, the grid now carries heavy demand for most of the day, leaving little room for surplus power or strategic reductions in consumption.

Dr Siliya encouraged households to maintain mixed-supply systems such as solar, inverters and generators, saying alternative sources have become a practical requirement. She said many consumers adopted these systems late because they expected national supply to keep up, but the rapid expansion in both population and economic activity changed the demand picture far faster than anticipated.

Addressing public claims that exports are worsening the shortage, Dr Siliya said most export arrangements are either firm commitments or dependent on regional coordination that only occurs when domestic demand temporarily eases. She said the core issue lies within Zambia’s own consumption levels, not the small volumes of power shared through the regional Southern Power Pool.

She also noted that the cost of fuel affects the ability of households and small businesses to operate alternative systems. She said generators and hybrid power setups depend on affordable fuel, and that stable pricing is important for productivity, especially in sectors where backup power is essential to daily operations.

Dr Siliya urged government to provide a clear national plan showing how power generation will expand in the coming years. She called for information on future hydro and coal projects, including timelines, funding structures and the investors involved. She said citizens want to understand how the shortage will be addressed in both the medium and long term and argued that transparent communication can reduce public uncertainty.

She said Zambia needs deliberate over-capacity in electricity generation to keep pace with modern consumption and future economic growth. According to her, electricity has become one of the country’s most critical essential commodities, and sustained investment is required to prevent recurring shortages.

Dr Siliya said Zambia’s electricity challenge is rooted in population growth, rising industrial activity and new consumption patterns driven by technology. She added that long-term planning and reliable investment in new generation projects are necessary to stabilise national supply and support development.