President Hakainde Hichilema has issued a stark warning against what he described as a resurgence of political violence and lawlessness, cautioning that recent incidents of violence threaten to erode national stability and reverse economic gains.
Speaking during a press conference at State House in Lusaka today, the President said he will not allow Zambia to return to the days of party thuggery, intimidation and street chaos.
Mr Hichilema said his administration’s reforms, including restoring order at bus stations and markets, were at risk of being undone by groups he said were attempting to re-establish illegal “party tax” systems that previously targeted bus drivers and marketeers.
The President said the government had observed individuals promoting violence on social media and vowed that law-enforcement agencies would not tolerate any form of militia activity, possession of illegal firearms, or attempts to seize public spaces such as markets and bus stations.
“All the progress we have made can be destroyed by lawlessness,” President Hichilema said, insisting that before 2021, transport operators were regularly extorted by political cadres.
“Today people move from one location to another freely. If we do not control this menace, all these positives will be wiped out,” President Hichilema emphasised.
President Hichilema revisited several incidents from his years in opposition, saying he personally survived multiple attacks, including stoning incidents, firearm threats and road ambushes.
He also referenced cases of assault on his supporters and the killing of citizens during previous regime’s political clashes, naming several victims and stressing that the country could not return to an environment where political groups operated above the law.
Responding to groups threatening demonstrations over constitutional amendment proposals, the President urged political actors to use institutional channels, including Parliament, the courts and formal dialogue platforms, rather than mobilising young people for street protests.
He revealed that civil society organisations had previously submitted constitutional proposals through established processes and encouraged critics to do the same.
“Why choose shouting in the streets when the door to dialogue is open? Do not send other people’s children into confrontation when you can walk into State House and talk,” President Hichilema said.
He warned that street confrontations would unsettle investors and harm the economy, citing examples of neighbouring countries where frequent protests led to disruptions of operations at major ports.
The President strongly condemned what he called attempts to use ethnicity, religion, or church affiliations to fuel division.
He said Zambia’s unity depended on leaders rejecting narratives that promote entitlement to political power.
President Hichilema also said he had previously restrained his own party supporters from retaliating during the 2021 general election aftermath, noting that leadership required preventing bloodshed.
President Hichilema has also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to continue removing illegal firearms from communities, stating that tools for development must replace weapons in the country.
“We want spanners, not guns. We want computers, not weapons,” he said, adding that a breakdown in internal security would scare away investment.
Commenting on ongoing debates over constitutional changes, President Hichilema accused some actors of attempting to manufacture chaos to weaken the government’s international standing.
He said Zambia’s courts, civic platforms and parliamentary systems remained available to all citizens, insisting that any disagreements should be resolved through those mechanisms.
Mr Hichilema further reaffirmed that his government would not tolerate a return to the political violence and cadre dominance that characterised previous years.
“We will not allow anyone to take Zambia backward, this country will be governed by the rule of law,” he said
