Hichilema’s Imaginary Scorecard: When Self-Appraisal Becomes National Gaslighting
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
I recently watched in disbelief as President Hakainde Hichilema, addressing a rally in Southern Province, confidently proclaimed that the UPND government had delivered 7 out of its 10 campaign promises. As the crowd applauded, I found myself asking a simple question: Which Zambia is the President living in? Because it’s certainly not the one the rest of us are struggling to survive in.
The audacity to boast about delivering on promises while the country is groaning under the weight of a crippling cost of living is not just misleading; it reflects a dangerous detachment from reality. What barometer did the President use to arrive at such a generous score for his administration? From where many of us stand, the UPND government has fallen drastically short.
Let’s look at the facts.
Today, Zambians are paying some of the highest fuel prices in the region. The ripple effect is seen in every household. From transport fares to food prices, everything is more expensive. Mealie meal, a staple food, has become a luxury. Families are cutting back not on wants but on needs.
The cost of doing business has soared. Entrepreneurs and SMEs are being strangled by erratic electricity supply and marathon load-shedding schedules that have paralyzed productivity. Farmers, welders, barbers, millers, and bakers alike are all victims of the chaos that has returned to the power sector.
On top of this economic despair is the damning rise in corruption, recently highlighted even by the U.S. Ambassador to Zambia. When even diplomatic voices begin to echo the concerns of ordinary citizens, it is a clear signal that the rot is too obvious to ignore.
And what of our justice system? It is visibly cracked. Opposition leaders are hounded while ruling party cadres walk free after issuing death threats. Whistleblowers are silenced, and impunity has taken root. This is not the justice reform we were promised. It is erosion.
Poverty remains high, unemployment is suffocating, and citizens are losing faith not just in leadership but in the very promise of democracy. Yet, in this chaos, President Hichilema marks his own report card with distinction.
This is akin to a student who drafts his own exam paper, invigilates it himself, marks it, and then walks out declaring, “I passed with flying colors!”
But Zambians are not fooled. We are living the reality. We are paying the bills, skipping meals, closing businesses, and navigating daily uncertainty. No amount of political rallies or media spin can erase that.
If seven out of ten promises have been fulfilled, as the President claims, then perhaps it is time for him to publish the list and let the people judge. Until then, the applause in Southern Province will remain a hollow echo, drowned out by the groans of a struggling nation.
Zambia deserves better. And we certainly deserve more honesty.
#zambianwhistleblower #ZWB
©️Zambian Whistleblower