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President Hakainde Hichilema has warned that there would be no space for violence, cadreism, or any form of lawlessness in Zambia as the nation heads toward the August 13, 2026 general elections.
Delivering his Address to Parliament on National Values, Principles, and Morals on Friday, President Hichilema underscored his administration’s commitment to strengthening democracy, promoting unity, and ensuring an inclusive governance system for all citizens.
He said government efforts to amend the Constitution were aimed at ensuring fair and equitable representation, particularly for women, youth, and persons with disabilities who, for the first time in Zambia’s history, will be guaranteed seats at various governance levels.
“Under our watch, there is no room for political violence, there is no room for cadreism, and there is no room for lawlessness,” Hichilema said, insisting that national unity must remain at the centre of political discourse.
Looking ahead to the 2026 general elections, he pledged that the polls would be free, fair, credible, and peaceful.
He urged political actors to embrace dialogue, tolerance, and respect for differing views.
“Democracy thrives on ideas, persuasion, and respect for divergent views. We should always choose unity over division, dialogue and inclusion over conflict and insults, and progress over politicking,” he said.
Anti-Corruption Efforts
Hichilema reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to good governance and integrity, noting that significant improvements had been made in the prosecution of corruption and economic crimes.
“We are now able to prosecute corruption and economic crimes within five months, a huge contrast to what we used to see, where cases could take 20 years or more,” he said.
He reported that the country had achieved the largest asset recovery in its history — including real estate, vehicles, helicopters, and cash — with recovered assets being returned to the citizens of Zambia.
Read More: Hichilema to address Parliament on national values, as CSOs urge focus on ethics, unity
Unity and Traditional Leadership
Hichilema praised traditional leaders for their contribution to national cohesion, noting that they were increasingly attending each other’s traditional ceremonies, a reflection of growing unity.
“Last year, we had the honour to meet with all the traditional leaders at the Mulungushi International Conference Center as part of our continued efforts to promote national unity,” he said.
Strengthening Representation and Decentralisation
The President reiterated that the amended Constitution will increase the number of seats in the National Assembly, allowing more citizens—especially vulnerable groups—to participate in governance and access opportunities.
He said decentralisation and equitable distribution of national resources were being accelerated through enhanced instruments such as the significantly increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Social Concerns: GBV and Human Trafficking
Hichilema expressed concern over rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), saying the government had intensified measures to tackle the vice through the establishment of a national call centre, one-stop centres, and fast-track courts.
He urged victims, relatives, and communities to report all incidents of GBV, insisting that the law must continue to take its course.
“We commend our traditional leaders, the church and other stakeholders for their support in the fight against these vices,” he said. “We remain deeply concerned regarding divorce rates in our country. Loving, caring, strong families are the foundations of a responsible and strong nation.”
On human trafficking, Hichilema noted that Zambia’s geographical location continued to pose challenges. However, he said the UPND administration had fully operationalised the Department of Anti-Human Trafficking under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security.
“The department, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, is leading efforts to totally eradicate human trafficking,” he said.
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