KBF’s ELITISM: A DISDAINFUL ATTACK ON ZAMBIA’S VILLAGES AND VALUES

KBF’s ELITISM: A DISDAINFUL ATTACK ON ZAMBIA’S VILLAGES AND VALUES- State House

By Clayson Hamasaka
Chief Communications Specialist
State House

Kelvin Fube Bwalya – KBF, leader of the ‘Zambia Must Prosper’ Movement, has recently stirred controversy with remarks that many Zambians found demeaning to rural communities, who constitute more than 50 percent of our population.

In the recent interviews, KBF sought to belittle President Hakainde Hichilema by highlighting his upbringing in a village, implying that urban origins, like his own from Mufulira, make one more deserving of leadership.

On the other hand, President Hakainde Hichilema has been very proud of his rural upbringing as an example of what free education policy can prove to be the best equaliser for all citizens.

KBF further disparaged President Hichilema as “wakaso” (stingy), suggesting that generosity involves handing out free money without accountability. Such rhetoric not only oversimplifies economic principles but also perpetuates a distorted view of leadership and development. If free giveaways truly built wealth, global economies would collapse under the weight of such misguided theories.

In fact, under his leadership, President Hichilema has even been more generous by broadening beneficiaries under Social Cash Transfers, introduction of bursary for a public universities, students meal allowances, increased CDF, Cash for Work as opposed to ‘Tantamene’ (free handouts by politicians to citizens) and many other government programmes.

KBF’s comments reflect a broader trend among some opposition leaders who seem out of touch with the values and contributions of Zambia’s rural communities. Labeling President Hichilema as “just a villager” insults not only him but also the countless Zambians who hail from rural areas. Villages have been the cultural and moral backbone of Zambia, producing some of Africa’s greatest leaders, thinkers, writers and activists.

Historically, rural areas have served as hubs of tradition, resilience, and hard work. They have nurtured leaders like Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda—icons who proved that one’s birthplace does not define their potential. Zambia’s rural communities have also been critical in the fight for independence and the preservation of cultural values, a fact that KBF seems to overlook in his elitist narrative.

Ironically, KBF’s own lineage likely traces back to a village, despite his urban upbringing. His attempt to stereotype rural areas as inferior reveals a troubling elitism and a lack of respect for the majority of Zambians who contribute to the country’s progress from rural settings. KBF is obviously not aware that the majority producers of the food we consume in urban areas are the peasant farmers in our villages.

In Nations such as Botswana, citizens trek back into their villages every weekend to tend to their flocks and till the land. President Hichilema has often encouraged Zambians to invest in their villages by building houses and other infrastructure.

Moreover, while President Hichilema exemplifies leadership and family values, raising accomplished children, KBF faces allegations of his children being involved in drug-related misconduct abroad. This glaring contrast raises serious questions about his credibility and character as a leader.

Zambians deserve leaders who honor their diverse backgrounds and recognize the dignity of every individual, regardless of their origins. To dismiss the contributions of villagers is to deny Zambia’s cultural heritage and the foundation of its independence.

As the Bemba saying goes, “Bamudala ba KBF tekanyeni”—let KBF’s elders remind him of the importance of respecting all people, including those from villages. Elitism has no place in Zambia’s leadership, and those who seek to divide the nation based on rural or urban origins must be called out for their harmful rhetoric.