By Given Mutinta
HICHILEMA IS NOT STAYING OVERNIGHT IN PROVINCES HE IS CAMPAIGNING
As the 2026 election campaign unfolds across Zambia’s ten provinces, President Hakainde Hichilema’s approach to rallying has raised pressing questions about fiscal responsibility and leadership credibility.
Despite assuming office on pledges to practice prudent financial management, the current campaign schedule—characterized by daily flights to and from distant provinces without overnight stays—has sparked public scrutiny over the efficient use of taxpayers’ money.
President Hichilema’s campaign rallies stretch from Monday to Sunday, with some events taking place hundreds of kilometers from his home base.
Each day, the president travels by air to attend these gatherings and returns within the same day, avoiding overnight accommodation in the provinces.
This practice Inevitably inflates operational costs, primarily due to substantial expenditures on jet fuel and related logistics.
This behavior is particularly incongruent when viewed against the backdrop of President Hichilema’s initial mandate, which emphasized strict fiscal management.
By opting not to lodge in the provinces, the campaign forfeits the opportunity to minimize travel expenses and reinvest these savings into critical developmental initiatives—projects that could tangibly improve the livelihoods of ordinary Zambians.