The Editor Zambia
Former diplomat and self-exiled opposition figure Emmanuel Mwamba has once again sought to place himself at the centre of Zambia’s development conversation by claiming that the UPND government copied ideas from his so-called “Project 2026” blueprint.
However, his latest assertions appear less like a serious policy contribution and more like an attempt to remain politically relevant as the ruling party continues to outperform the Patriotic Front (PF) in areas where the former government failed to deliver. 
Mwamba’s claim that the UPND borrowed its economic vision from his online broadcasts ignores a simple reality. The development goals he cites are neither unique nor original.
Increasing electricity generation, expanding agricultural output, promoting value addition in mining, and growing the economy are objectives that have featured in national development plans for decades. No individual can claim ownership of such aspirations.
What appears to trouble Mwamba is that the UPND is transforming ambitious targets into practical programmes while many PF leaders merely spoke about them during their decade in office.
For years, the PF promised economic diversification, increased power generation, and industrialisation. Yet by the time it left office in 2021, Zambia was burdened with unsustainable debt, widespread load shedding, a weakened currency, and a struggling economy.
Despite favourable copper prices during portions of its tenure, the PF failed to establish the transformative industries it frequently advertised.
The current administration inherited a difficult economic situation but has steadily worked to restore confidence, attract investment, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth.
Major investments in mining, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure have been secured under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, with several projects already underway.
The suggestion that these achievements are inspired by Mwamba’s personal broadcasts is difficult to take seriously.
Development planning is not conducted through social media commentary.
It is undertaken through institutions, expert consultation, economic analysis, and strategic policymaking.
The UPND government possesses one of the most technically qualified leadership teams Zambia has ever seen in recent years.
President Hichilema is a trained economist whose academic and professional credentials have long been recognised both locally and internationally.
His understanding of economics was established long before Emmanuel Mwamba began producing online policy presentations from abroad.
Equally important is the role played by Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, whose reputation as an economist extends beyond Zambia’s borders.
Musokotwane has earned respect within international financial circles for his expertise in economic management and fiscal reform.
Together with other highly qualified professionals serving in government, the administration has demonstrated a capacity to formulate and implement policies grounded in evidence and practical realities.
Mwamba’s attempt to portray himself as the intellectual architect behind Zambia’s development ambitions also overlooks the fact that many of the issues he now raises were neglected during the PF era.
If the PF possessed all these ideas and solutions, Zambians are justified in asking why they were not fully implemented when the party controlled the instruments of government.
The reality is that economic transformation requires more than speeches and declarations. It demands discipline, competence, credibility, and the ability to attract investment. These are areas where the current administration has made notable progress.
Rather than claiming ownership of broad development objectives, opposition figures would serve the country better by offering constructive alternatives and acknowledging positive developments where they exist.
National progress should not become a competition over who first mentioned a particular idea on television or social media.
As Zambia moves toward the 2026 elections, voters are likely to judge political leaders not by who makes the loudest claims but by who delivers measurable results.
On that score, the UPND is increasingly presenting evidence of implementation, while many of its critics remain trapped in the politics of rhetoric.
Mwamba may continue insisting that government policies originated from his personal blueprint, but most Zambians understand the difference between talking about development and actually achieving it.
