DEMAND FOR CHANGE, DR. M’MEMBE URGES ZAMBIANS
Addis Ababa… Thursday May 22, 2025 — Socialist Party (SP) President Dr. Fred M’membe has condemned President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND government, saying they have “lamentably failed” and should be voted out in next year’s general elections.
In a statement issued to the press, Dr. M’membe stated that President Hichilema had failed to live up to the many promises he made to Zambians during his campaign, arguing that not only has he under-delivered, but there is little indication that the situation will improve before the 2026 elections.
According to Dr. M’membe, the economic and social challenges facing the country have worsened under the current administration, and public confidence in Mr. Hichilema’s leadership has significantly declined.
He pointed to data from the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Food Basket as evidence of growing economic hardship, noting that many Zambians can no longer afford basic necessities.
Dr. M’membe argued that this was a clear sign of deteriorating living standards under “ineffective economic policies.”
Dr. M’membe also cited the declining exchange rate as a reflection of what he described as poor productivity and weak economic management.
He attributed this to flawed fiscal and monetary policies, particularly in sectors such as mining where he accused the government of failing to implement effective taxation.
On the education front, he criticized the unplanned free education policy saying it had led to a drop in quality due to insufficient infrastructure and staffing, which could not keep pace with the rise in pupil numbers.
Turning to governance, Dr. M’membe condemned President Hichilema for eroding democratic freedoms through restrictive legislation and selective justice.
He stated that opposition members had been unfairly targeted, while misconduct among the President’s allies had been ignored.
He also raised concerns over what he called regionally biased appointments to senior government positions.
According to the opposition leader, cooperating partners and donors have begun to lose faith in Zambia’s leadership due to governance concerns and unresolved corruption allegations.
He warned that this erosion of trust could lead to reduced external support, with negative consequences for vital social services such as healthcare.
Dr. M’membe concluded by stating that the President’s track record of budget deficits and economic mismanagement was unsustainable.
He urged the Zambian people to hold Mr. Hichilema accountable at the ballot box, asserting that “he must be voted out next year.”