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Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has urged voters to back his administration’s economic reforms and vote for progress, arguing that the country’s future depends on maintaining what he described as gains in education, economic stability and investment.
Hichilema spoke after casting his ballot on Thursday as Zambians voted in presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
He framed the election as a choice between continuing his government’s reforms and returning to what he described as economic instability and political violence.
“I believe that they will vote and make a decision to secure the future of their children and their children and their children,” Hichilema said.
Hichilema also defended his economic record, saying his administration had pursued reforms aimed at accelerating growth, attracting investment and creating jobs.
“We came into office, public office, with a clear vision, anchored on accelerated economic growth. And that can only happen with investments,” he said.
“And with that, we can create jobs. We can create business opportunities. We will increase treasury income.”
He said increased government revenue would allow the state to expand support for vulnerable groups, including children, older people and the sick.
Hichilema also pointed to Zambia’s debt restructuring and economic reforms, saying his government had made progress despite challenges including drought and the debt burden it inherited.
The president also made peace and political stability a central part of his appeal to voters, contrasting Thursday’s election with the 2021 polls.
“In the last election, 2021, it was chaotic. It was noisy. It was bloody. It was really scary. But we brought calmness in the country,” he said.
According to Hichilema, political stability was necessary to attract investment and create economic opportunities.
He urged voters to protect what he described as the gains of his administration.
“To the voters, they have to make a choice between progress with us, to build on the gains that we’ve made, to protect those gains,” he said.
Hichilema also cited the performance of the Zambian kwacha, claiming it had been one of the world’s best-performing currencies and arguing that its strength reflected investor confidence.
The election is testing Hichilema’s record after his first five-year term, which followed his 2021 victory.
Hichilema has made economic recovery, debt restructuring, investment, education and job creation central to his campaign.
His government has also pointed to Zambia’s return to debt sustainability after the country’s 2020 sovereign default.
His main challenger is Brian Mundubile, the presidential candidate of the NRPUP, who has questioned the credibility of the electoral process.
About 8.7 million voters are registered for Thursday’s election, which will also determine the composition of parliament and local councils. Results are expected on Monday.
