By the EditorZambia
The so-called “stoning incident” during President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to Chingola was not a mere act of public anger or spontaneous unrest.
It was, by every reasonable measure, an assassination attempt on the Head of State—an unforgivable act that must shake the conscience of every peace-loving Zambian.
To call it anything less is to trivialise a calculated, dangerous, and potentially tragic attack on the very soul of our democracy. 
Yes, you read that right. Imagine, for a moment, if those stones hurled toward the President’s podium had been bullets. Today, we would not be discussing a protest—we would be mourning the violent death of a sitting President.
That possibility alone should jolt every citizen into recognising the gravity of what transpired on the Copperbelt that fateful day.
President Hakainde Hichilema had travelled to Chingola to offer comfort and assurance to citizens devastated by the recent Chiwempala Market fire.
It was meant to be an act of leadership, of empathy, of direct engagement with the people. Yet a few unruly individuals—likely manipulated by shadowy political forces—chose to turn that moment of unity into a spectacle of treachery.
As the President prepared to address the crowd, stones suddenly rained toward the podium, forcing his security detail to act with lightning precision, shielding him and whisking him to safety.
This was no random outburst. According to credible reports from Africa Publicity, tensions began rising just before the address.
A small group began chanting provocatively, and then, almost on cue, the attack was launched.
The coordination, timing, and deliberate targeting of the stage leave no doubt that this was a premeditated act.
The question that must now dominate public discourse is simple yet urgent: Who sponsored these assailants?
It is not enough that some culprits have been arrested. The government must dig deeper—much deeper.
Zambia’s security and intelligence wings must investigate who financed, organised, and incited this treasonous act.
Was it an opposition faction hoping to embarrass the President? Was it a rogue political group trying to destabilise the nation ahead of 2026? Or could it be an attempt to sow ethnic division by painting the Copperbelt as anti-Hichilema territory?
Let us be clear: this was treasonous conduct, plain and simple. An attack on the President is an attack on the Republic. The Constitution, the flag, and the collective will of the Zambian people were all under assault when those stones were thrown.
Sadly, certain opposition figures and social media commentators have wasted no time turning this tragedy into a political circus.
Instead of condemning the violence, they gleefully painted it as a symbol of “rejection,” spinning false narratives to portray the President as unpopular.
In doing so, they revealed their moral bankruptcy. How can anyone of sound mind celebrate a moment when the life of the Head of State was in peril?
Zambians must also not rule out the ethnic framing of this incident.
Fortunately, some commentators have rightly connected the episode to be a tribal act.
It is such ethnic rhetoric that is a poison that corrodes national unity and precisely what those who funded and coordinated the attack intended—to fracture the nation, inflame tensions, and turn Zambians against one another.
The Copperbelt, for all its vibrancy and bold political expression, must not allow the violent and ‘enemies of progress tag to be associated with the province.
They instead should be the engine room of Zambia’s economy—proud, hardworking, and fiercely patriotic.
The violent actions of a handful of hired thugs must not define the spirit of the Copperbelt.
It is true that political unrest around national leaders has occurred in the past. Presidents Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa, and others faced jeers and protests during tense political times.
But there is a world of difference between booing a president and launching physical projectiles aimed to harm him. One is expression; the other is attempted assassination.
The Copperbelt incident crosses a red line.
The government must act decisively. It is not enough to issue statements of condemnation or temporary arrests. What Zambia needs is a full-scale investigation, followed by serious punishment for both perpetrators and sponsors.
Those found guilty must face the full wrath of the law—without political compromise, without tribal bias, and without fear.
Moreover, the State must strengthen the President’s security protocol during public engagements.
Zambia’s democratic openness must never become a weapon used by enemies of the state to harm its leader. The right to protest does not include the right to assassinate.
This is also a moment for reflection among citizens. We must ask ourselves:What kind of democracy are we building if political rivalry involves endangering lives?
Have we become so desensitised to violence that we cannot distinguish between dissent and criminality?
President Hakainde Hichilema has shown restraint and dignity in the face of provocation. Instead of responding with bitterness, he has continued to emphasise dialogue, peace, and development.
His commitment to rebuilding Chiwempala Market, addressing mining sector grievances, and creating opportunities for all Zambians remains unwavering.
It is that very resolve that his refusal to play the politics of vengeance makes him a target for those who thrive on chaos.
But make no mistake. Zambia must not allow anarchy to masquerade as democracy. Those who seek to destabilise the nation through violence must be rooted out, exposed, and punished as enemies of the State.
This moment calls for unity, not division; for vigilance, not complacency.
The attempted assassination of a sitting President is not just an attack on President Hichilema as an individual. It is an attack on Zambia’s peace, progress, and future.
Every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, must stand on the side of justice, civility, and national security.
If this brazen act is ignored or downplayed, we risk setting a dangerous precedent that one can attack the Head of State and walk away under the guise of “political expression.” That must never happen in our republic.
The government must, therefore act firmly, swiftly, and uncompromisingly.
Those who threw the stones, those who paid for them to be thrown, and those who now attempt to trivialise this act in the media must all face the consequences of their actions.
Let the message ring clear across the nation that Zambia will not tolerate treason disguised as protest. The sanctity of the presidency is non-negotiable, and any attempt to harm the Head of State must be met with the full force of the law.
Only then will justice be done and not just for President Hichilema, but for every Zambian who believes that peace, order, and the rule of law must forever remain the foundation of our beloved nation.
