Our Civic Duty Association (OCIDA) has implored Zambians to rally behind the candidature of President Hakainde Hichilema in the August 2026 general elections.

OCIDA Spokesperson, Simwinji Simwinji, has stressed that by supporting President Hichilema in the fourth coming polls, Zambians will be voting for continuity, stability, and sustained development.

ZANIS reports that speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, Mr Simwinji said President Hichilema has demonstrated that Zambia is in capable hands owing to the development the country has witnessed under his leadership.

He said the association is convinced that Zambia, under the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration, is on the right path hence the call to vote for continuity.

Mr Simwinji further advised critics of President Hichilema to acknowledge where the government has scored high such as the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF), free education policy, school feeding programme, recruitment of teachers and nurses, restoration of meal allowance and infrastructure development, among others.

He emphasised that Zambia is currently in a recovery phase, and any change in leadership would risk undermining the progress achieved under the UPND administration.

Mr Simwinji also observed that the President has shown care and leadership by ensuring that no ordinary citizen died of hunger during the waste period in the history of Zambia

And commenting on load shedding, Mr Simwinji said the load shedding experienced in Zambia is not as a result of mismanagement of the UPND government.

He explained that the load shedding was caused by the drought, adding that it was beyond government powers.

Mr Simwinji further charged that the high cost of living people are complaining about has been necessitated by the drought and not economic mismanagement.

Meanwhile, Mr Simwinji has appealed to President Hichilema to expedite the formalisation of small-scale mining and delimitation, including timely farmer payment.