The Editor Zambia
A recent article titled “Use Hichilema’s Own Tribalism to Defeat Him” that appeared in Lusaka Times advances a deeply flawed and dangerous proposition that Zambia’s 2026 elections should be decided through ethnic arithmetic rather than democratic competition based on ideas, policies and performance.
While the author Field Ruwe writing from America where he relocated many years ago claims not to be promoting tribal politics, the entire premise of the article is built around mobilising the Bemba grouping and its affiliates against the Bantu Botatwe, a strategy that directly contradicts Zambia’s founding principle of “One Zambia, One Nation.” 
The greatest weakness in Ruwe’s article is its assumption that President Hakainde Hichilema’s support is primarily tribal.
This argument ignores the political realities that led to his victory in 2021 that saw Hichilema win support across the country from millions of Zambians frustrated by economic decline, corruption scandals, shrinking democratic space and youth unemployment.
President Hichilema’s victory was not confined to Southern Province or the Bantu Botatwe-speaking regions since he secured substantial votes in Lusaka, the Copperbelt, North-Western Province and other parts of the country including Northern and Eastern provinces because voters wanted change.
Reducing the choices of millions of Zambians to tribal loyalty is not only inaccurate but also insulting because Zambians are capable of evaluating leaders on their record, vision, and competence.
To suggest that entire ethnic groups vote solely because of tribal identity is to deny citizens their individual political agency.
The article also makes sweeping allegations of tribal appointments in government without presenting credible evidence. Zambia’s Constitution requires appointments based on merit, competence, and national interest.
While no administration is perfect, allegations of systematic tribalism must be supported by verifiable facts rather than perceptions and political rhetoric.
It is worth noting that President Hichilema’s government includes individuals from virtually every region of Zambia, demonstrating an effort to build an inclusive administration.
Equally troubling is the author’s call for the opposition to organise itself around ethnic demographics. Such a strategy would not strengthen democracy; it would weaken it.
The history of Africa is filled with examples of countries that suffered instability because politicians chose to mobilise citizens along ethnic lines rather than around national interests.
Zambia has largely avoided such divisions precisely because successive generations have defended the principle of national unity.
The article repeatedly portrays Tonga people as a monolithic political bloc motivated by a collective historical grievance. This oversimplification ignores the diversity of opinions that exist within every community.
Tongas, like Bembas, Ngonis, Lozis, Chewas, Lundas, Kaondes, and every other ethnic group, do not think alike since they hold different political views, economic interests and aspirations.
Democracy thrives when citizens are treated as individuals rather than members of ethnic voting banks.
Furthermore, the suggestion that opposition parties should focus on creating a demographic counterweight to certain tribes risks escalating tensions that Zambia neither needs nor deserves. Elections should be contests of ideas.
If opposition parties believe they can govern better, they should present compelling policies on the economy, jobs, agriculture, education, healthcare, and energy.
They should convince voters through arguments, not through tribal mobilisation.
President Hichilema, like any elected leader, should be judged on his achievements and shortcomings.
President Hichilema’s administration has overseen debt restructuring progress, increased mining investment, expanded social programmes, and pursued economic reforms aimed at restoring growth.
Citizens are free to assess these outcomes and make their own decisions at the ballot box.
The future of Zambia will not be secured through tribal coalitions designed to defeat other tribes but will be achieved through issue-based politics, respect for democratic institutions, and a commitment to national unity.
The lesson for all political actors is clear: Zambia succeeds when it rejects tribalism, not when it mirrors it. The country’s strength lies not in ethnic arithmetic but in the enduring belief that every citizen, regardless of tribe or region, belongs equally to one nation.
