DELIVERY, NOT RHETORIC, SHOULD REMAIN THE STANDARD OF JUDGEMENT
As Zambia moves closer to the August 13 general election, President Hakainde Hichilema has continued to repeat a simple but powerful message to the electorate: “Anything we promise, we deliver.”
This is the message he told Copperbelt residents this week and has continued telling Zambians in all other provinces. 
Political opponents may dismiss the statement as campaign rhetoric, but the more important question is whether the facts on the ground support such confidence.
Our view as The Editor Zambia is that, while no government can claim perfection, the UPND administration has assembled a record that deserves serious consideration from voters.
Elections should ultimately be contests of performance rather than empty promises, and on that score, the New Dawn government has much to place before the Zambian people.
One of the administration’s defining achievements has been restoring order to public life. Not too long ago, the country was plagued by lawlessness orchestrated by political cadres who had effectively taken over markets, bus stations, and other public spaces.
Violence, intimidation, and political impunity became synonymous with governance, leaving many citizens feeling insecure in their own communities.
Today, that unfortunate chapter has largely been closed. Public institutions have reclaimed their authority, while ordinary Zambians are able to conduct their daily business without the constant fear of political harassment.
The return of law and order may not always dominate political speeches, but it is one of the most meaningful achievements of any government committed to democratic governance.
Equally significant has been the introduction of free education, a policy that has transformed the lives of thousands of families. By removing school fees at public secondary schools, the government ensured that children from disadvantaged backgrounds could continue their education regardless of their parents’ financial circumstances.
The policy has done more than just improve school enrolment. It has restored hope to countless households and reaffirmed education as a fundamental investment in Zambia’s future.
Complemented by the recruitment of thousands of teachers and the construction of additional classroom infrastructure, the education sector has undergone one of its most substantial reforms in decades.
Healthcare has experienced similar progress. Thousands of nurses, doctors, and other health professionals have been recruited, easing staff shortages that had affected many health facilities across the country.
Rural communities, in particular, have begun to experience improved access to healthcare services through expanded staffing and continued investment in health infrastructure.
Economic recovery has perhaps presented the administration’s greatest challenge. The government inherited an economy weighed down by unsustainable debt, low investor confidence, and serious fiscal constraints.
Although recovery has not been without difficulties, there are unmistakable signs that the country’s economic foundations have become considerably stronger.
Debt restructuring has restored Zambia’s standing in international financial markets, while renewed investment in mining has begun breathing life back into the Copperbelt. The revival of major mining operations has generated renewed optimism among businesses and workers whose livelihoods depend on the sector.
The government has also expanded the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) into a meaningful vehicle for grassroots development.
Communities across the country are witnessing the construction of schools, health facilities, bridges, markets and water projects through resources that are now reaching local authorities more directly than before.
Agriculture continues to receive increased attention through reforms to the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and greater investment in food security initiatives. These interventions remain critical in supporting rural livelihoods while strengthening national agricultural productivity.
Naturally, challenges remain. The cost of living continues to concern many households, and unemployment remains a pressing issue for young people, and the government itself acknowledges there is still much work ahead. These realities should neither be ignored nor minimised.
However, it would equally be dishonest to disregard the substantial progress that has been achieved since 2021.
Governments should be assessed not by whether every problem has been solved within a single term but by whether the country is moving in the right direction.
On balance, there is persuasive evidence that Zambia has regained stability, restored investor confidence, and strengthened public service delivery under the current administration.
President Hichilema’s assertion that his government delivers on its promises is, therefore, more than a campaign slogan but an invitation to voters to compare commitments with outcomes. As citizens prepare to cast their ballots next month, they would do well to judge every political party by the same standard: not by the promises made on campaign platforms, but by the record left behind in office.
And if they use this yardstick, President Hichilema would come on top with no comparison from any other political party.
Ultimately, delivery remains the strongest currency in democratic politics. It is that record—not rhetoric—that should guide the nation’s decision on election day to vote for President Hichilema and the UPND.
