The Editor Zambia
“You can’t keep a good man down” is more than just an old saying but a timeless truth about resilience, determination and the ability of a leader to rise above criticism and adversity through performance and connection with ordinary people.
In Zambia today, no political figure embodies that proverb more vividly than President Hakainde Hichilema, whose growing popularity across the country continues to tower above that of his rivals. 
The latest evidence of this came from the Copperbelt, Zambia’s historic political hotbed and once considered difficult terrain for the ruling UPND.
In a dramatic show of grassroots support, students from Copperbelt University, marketeers, and small scale miners mobilised themselves and raised K100,000 to pay for President Hichilema’s presidential nomination fees ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The money was raised through a “50 ngwee challenge,” an initiative that symbolised collective sacrifice and appreciation from ordinary citizens.
Under the campaign, supporters contributed 50 ngwee each with the aim of reaching the K100,000 target. The funds were formally handed over in Ndola to Copperbelt Provincial Minister Elisha Matambo in what many have described as a powerful endorsement of President Hichilema’s leadership and his anticipated second term.
That university students, miners, and marketeers could voluntarily contribute towards a sitting President’s nomination fee speaks volumes about the political mood in the country.
It reflects a growing belief among ordinary citizens that President Hichilema has delivered tangible results that directly affect their lives.
For students, the restoration of meal allowances represented more than just government policy but a restoration of dignity and opportunity for thousands of vulnerable young people struggling to survive in institutions of higher learning.
Many students on the Copperbelt openly acknowledged that the gesture was their way of saying thank you to a president they believe listens to the concerns of ordinary citizens.
For small-scale miners and mining communities, the revival of mining activities on the Copperbelt has brought renewed economic hope to a region that had suffered years of uncertainty, closures, and job losses.
Markets that once appeared lifeless are slowly buzzing again with commercial activity as confidence returns to the local economy.
Indeed, President Hichilema’s popularity today is not built on empty slogans or political theatrics but anchored on policies aimed at steadying the economy, empowering grassroots communities, and restoring confidence in national governance.
Inflationary pressures that once threatened livelihoods have begun easing while investor confidence in Zambia continues to improve.
Across many communities, ordinary citizens are beginning to see signs of economic recovery and future prosperity. Road projects, mining expansion, agricultural support programmes, and increased empowerment initiatives are gradually changing public sentiment in favour of the ruling administration.
This explains why President Hichilema currently dwarfs his political opponents in terms of popularity and public appeal.
While many of his rivals remain trapped in political bitterness, social media propaganda, and personality attacks, the President appears focused on governance and economic transformation.
Zambians are increasingly judging leaders not by noise but by delivery.
The Copperbelt fundraising initiative is, therefore, not merely about money for nomination fees but a political statement from the grassroots.
It is an endorsement of continuity and a declaration from ordinary citizens that they believe Zambia is finally moving in the right direction and that the man steering in that direction deserves another mandate.
In politics, genuine popularity cannot be manufactured through propaganda or intimidation but earned through trust and visible impact on people’s lives.
The spontaneous mobilisation of students, miners, and marketeers demonstrates that President Hichilema has cultivated a connection with ordinary Zambians that many politicians can only dream about.
As the country moves closer to the 2026 elections, one reality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and that is President Hichilema remains the dominant political figure in Zambia today.
And if the scenes from the Copperbelt are anything to go by, the grassroots have already begun making their verdict known.
After all, as the old saying reminds us, you simply cannot keep a good man down.
