Bana bahesu,
Building a nation is a marathon, not a sprint. A solid foundation does not fix every challenge overnight, but it ensures that when we build, we build to last.
Over the past five years, under President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND administration, critical groundwork has been laid to stabilize our economy and set Zambia on a path of structured, long-term progress: 
Macroeconomic Discipline and Inflation Reduction: Through prudent fiscal management and debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework, the government stabilized the Kwacha and brought annual inflation down to 6.5%, restoring market predictability.
Mining Sector Investment: Mining is Zambia’s heartbeat. Over the last five years, the government unlocked over $12 billion in new investment, resolved disputes surrounding key Copperbelt assets like KCM and Mopani, and launched world-class projects like the $2.2 billion Mingomba deposit, repositioning the nation toward its 3 million metric tonne copper output target.
Strategic Rail Corridors and Economic Connectivity: By spearheading the landmark Lobito Corridor Rail Project alongside international partners and advancing the revitalization and commercial concessioning of the historic TAZARA railway, Zambia is connecting its mining and agricultural heartlands directly to both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, cementing our country as Southern Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub.
Rehabilitating National Transport Links: Major economic arteries are being overhauled across the country, from key highway upgrades like the Lusaka to Ndola dual carriageway and Serenje to Mpika trade route to local feeder roads that link rural farmers directly to commercial markets.
Provincial Aviation Infrastructure: Modernization has reached beyond international gateways like KKIA. Strategic investments in regional aerodromes, including overhauls at Kasama, Mansa, Solwezi, Mfuwe, and Mongu Airports, are opening up regional trade, local tourism, and investment across all provinces.
Universal Free Basic Education: Free primary and secondary education has brought over 2.6 million children back into classrooms nationwide, lifting a major financial burden from parents and providing equal learning opportunities.
Restoring University Support and Campus Refurbishments: The administration restored and increased student accommodation allowances to ZMW 5,850, while simultaneously funding long-overdue campus rehabilitations to upgrade hostels, sanitation facilities, and lecture rooms.
Lifeline Healthcare Upgrades: The commissioning of the restored $31 million Radiotherapy and Imaging section at UTH brought advanced local cancer treatment back online after years of shutdown, sparing families the cost of overseas travel while regional cancer centers in Ndola and Livingstone continue to expand.
Empowering Communities Through CDF: Raising the Constituency Development Fund from ZMW 1.6 million to over ZMW 40 million per constituency put direct decision-making power in the hands of local residents to build neighborhood clinics, schools, and fund youth skills grants.
Orderly and Safe Markets: Public markets and bus terminals were handed back to the Councils and ordinary traders, ending political cadre harassment so citizens can earn a living in safety, peace, and dignity. The years of political party extortion from poor marketeers is over.
Elections are about deciding whether to protect a proven foundation and build upon it, or to abandon the progress made and start over.
We recognize that many families are still facing real economic pressures and daily hardships, and the work is far from finished.
We will not tire in working day and night to bring Zambia and its people to the prosperous level they truly deserve.
Zambia. Forward.
CM
