By Chiti Manga
As Zambia inches closer to the 2026 general elections, one reality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: the opposition is not merely struggling, it is unraveling.
What should have been a period of consolidation, policy refinement and grassroots mobilisation has instead exposed a fractured political camp weighed down by infighting, weak structures and a glaring inability to offer Zambians a credible alternative to the current leadership. Desperation now defines the opposition mood and desperation when unmanaged, never produces victory. 
Across the opposition spectrum, internal squabbles have replaced coherent strategy. Leadership contests are unresolved, alliances are fragile or purely opportunistic, and party structures remain skeletal in many parts of the country.
While the ruling party is busy governing โ and, crucially, delivering โ the opposition appears trapped in endless press statements, reactive politics, and recycled talking points. There is little evidence of serious preparation for a national campaign, let alone a compelling vision for Zambiaโs future.
Even more damning is the oppositionโs failure to answer the most basic political question: Why should Zambians trust you to govern better? Criticism alone is not a programme. Protest is not policy. Noise is not leadership. Yet, beyond attacks and alarmist rhetoric, the opposition has struggled to articulate how it would manage the economy differently, stabilise public finances, attract investment, or improve livelihoods more effectively than the current administration. This vacuum of ideas has left voters unconvinced and, increasingly, indifferent.
The desperation deepens when set against the performance of President Hakainde Hichilema, who is the 5th best performing Predident in the world.
Week after week, the President continues to score points across economic, political, and social fronts, steadily dismantling the oppositionโs long-standing narratives.
Issues that once dominated opposition messaging โ unpaid farmers, a weakening Kwacha, load shedding, fuel prices, and the high cost of living โ are being addressed in measurable, practical ways. Each resolved grievance strips the opposition of another weapon.
Perhaps the most uncomfortable development for some opposition figures is not merely policy success but symbolism. President Hichilemaโs leadership has punctured deeply ingrained, tribally tinged assumptions that have lingered in Zambiaโs politics since independence. For decades, political power was largely perceived โ rightly or wrongly โ as the preserve of certain regions. Other regions were often subtly or overtly dismissed as politically peripheral, never quite โdestinedโ to rule. Today, that myth is collapsing in real time. A President once described by critics as โtribally suspectโ is governing, stabilising the economy, re-engaging the international community, and presiding over reforms that are reshaping key sectors. For those whose politics relied on exclusion, this moment feels less like competition and more like an existential shock.
What they feared most โ leadership outside their narrow comfort zones โ is no longer theoretical. It is happening. That fear has morphed into paranoia. Unable to match delivery with delivery, some opposition voices have retreated into dog whistles, conspiracy theories, and ethnic insinuations.
This is not strategy; it is panic. It reflects a camp that senses defeat and is scrambling for emotional triggers where rational arguments have failed. Desperation, of course, is not inherently negative. In politics, as in life, it can act as a catalyst โ forcing actors to abandon complacency, rethink priorities, and confront reality. At its best, desperation can inspire renewal, creativity, and humility. But that requires clarity, discipline, and honesty. None of these qualities are currently visible in the oppositionโs conduct.
Instead, desperation is impairing judgment. Decisions are increasingly driven by fear rather than foresight, leading to impulsive attacks instead of credible alternatives. Short-term outrage is being prioritised over long-term solutions.
Unrealistic promises are floated without any grounding in fiscal or institutional reality. When these promises inevitably collapse under scrutiny, public confidence erodes further.
The oppositionโs deeper problem is structural. Weak grassroots presence means messages do not translate into mobilisation. Limited internal democracy fuels endless leadership disputes. The absence of a unifying vision prevents coalition-building beyond convenience. And without strong policy teams or shadow governance frameworks, criticism lacks substance. Desperation alone cannot compensate for these deficits.
Meanwhile, the ruling party benefits from a simple but powerful advantage: results. Farmers are being paid. Currency pressures are easing. Energy diversification is underway. Tough reforms, once avoided, are being confronted. Challenges remain โ no serious leader denies that โ but the direction of travel is increasingly clear.
Governance is replacing guesswork; delivery is overtaking rhetoric.
As 2026 approaches, Zambians will face a choice not between perfection and failure but between progress and protest without a plan. Elections are won not by shouting the loudest but by convincing voters that tomorrow will be better under your leadership. At present, the opposition is failing that test.
