Hichilema shrugs off criticism over consistent repeat of attires, warns illegal miners of tough action

President Hakainde Hichilema has dismissed social media jibes about his repeated choice of shoes and attire, saying such matters do not concern him as his focus remains on delivering development to the people of Zambia.

Speaking in Kitwe on Sunday during the commissioning of the UPND Copperbelt office park, President Hichilema said critics should not expect him to be distracted by trivial issues.

“I laugh at people talking about wearing the same shoes as I browse social media pages. There is a level you reach when such things do not matter. Some of us could have several pairs of the same type of shoes—it is simply a habit. Let us concentrate on things that matter most,” he said.

The President also reflected on his time in opposition, recalling the difficulties he faced, including death threats and violent attacks.

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“Today is a big day for the UPND because it reminds us of when we gained freedom. We survived bullets targeted at us, but they ended up killing Joseph Kaunda, Mapenzi Chibulo, and others,” he recounted, as his administration marked four years in office.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema issued a stern warning to illegal miners, stressing that the law would take its course against perpetrators to restore order in the mining sector.

Responding to calls from UPND youth leaders for access to copper dumps on the Copperbelt, he maintained that his government would not allow illegal and unsafe mining activities.

“We will not allow unsafe and illegal mining that attracts infiltration of foreign elements, which can lead to instability like in other countries. Instead, we will create a formal artisanal mining structure where minerals will be bought from small-scale miners at a fair price,” he said.

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