The Editor Zambia
As Zambia moves toward the August 13 general election, the message delivered by President Hakainde Hichilema deserves serious reflection from every citizen.
The choice before the nation is not merely about party colours or personalities. It is a choice between continuing on the path of reform, development, and national unity, or risking a return to an era when mismanagement, division, and missed opportunities held the country back. 
President Hichilema has correctly framed this election around performance and delivery. Leadership must always be judged by what it has done to improve the lives of ordinary people.
In that regard, the New Dawn UPND administration has presented a record that cannot be ignored. Free education has opened the doors of learning to millions of children who once faced exclusion because of poverty. Thousands of teachers have been recruited, easing
pressure on schools and strengthening the future of our young people.
The health sector has also seen renewed attention through the recruitment of health workers and the expansion of services.
At the community level, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has given local people a chance to identify and implement projects that directly address their needs. Roads, clinics, schools, markets, and empowerment initiatives are now being discussed and delivered closer to the people than ever before.
These are not small achievements. They represent a philosophy of government that places citizens first. They show what can happen when leadership is focused on practical results rather than endless political drama.
Zambia must, therefore, guard against the temptation to reverse progress through anger, confusion, or nostalgia. Our country has, in past years, suffered from economic strain, rising debt concerns, shrinking opportunities, and politics built on confrontation rather than solutions.
Many citizens remember those difficult periods when confidence was low and hope seemed distant. Returning to such a disorder would be a costly mistake.
The President’s call for unity is equally important. Development cannot thrive in a climate of constant hostility. Investors seek stability. Communities need cooperation. Public servants require clear direction.
Citizens deserve leaders who inspire togetherness instead of tribalism, bitterness, and endless conflict.
This is why the opposition political parties must also ask themselves hard questions. If national interest truly comes first, then pride must not stand in the way of progress.
Opposition politics should never become opposition for its own sake. Where a government is implementing policies that benefit the people, responsible leaders should support those efforts.
If some opposition figures genuinely believe Zambia needs faster development, then joining hands with the ruling UPND should not be seen as surrender but as patriotism.
History shows that nations move forward when capable people unite around a common agenda. Zambia needs its best minds working together, not tearing each other down from opposite corners.
Defections based on principle, national service, and shared vision would strengthen governance and send a message that country matters more than career.
As matters stand today, the UPND remains the dominant national vehicle for reform, while President Hichilema has positioned himself as the central figure of continuity and stability.
Whether one agrees entirely or not, he has become the face of a development-first agenda that many citizens can see and measure.
The road to Zambia’s political Canaan has been long and often disappointing since the return of multiparty democracy in 1991.
Several administrations promised transformation, yet too many opportunities slipped away. Today, the country has another chance to stay the course.
Zambians should choose unity over division, progress over regression, and service over slogans. In doing so, they will not simply be voting for a party or a man—they will be voting for the future they wish to build.
