From Crisis to Progress

Simuuwe says the ruling party inherited a broken system from Lungu — but UPND is fixing and rebuilding what the PF destroyed.

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24 -(May 14, 2025) – The United Party for National Development (UPND) has accused former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu of attempting to rewrite history and downplay the progress made by the current administration under President Hakainde Hichilema.

UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe said the former Head of State left behind a broken system, marred by economic mismanagement, corruption, and policy failures — and the UPND has been steadily rebuilding from that wreckage.

“When we came into office, we found a country on its knees — teachers unpaid, hospitals understaffed, farmers neglected, and infrastructure projects abandoned,” Simuuwe stated.

“Today, there is measurable progress.”

Simuuwe said the education sector had collapsed under the PF, with an employment freeze that halted expansion.

The UPND has since recruited over 45,000 teachers and reintroduced free education, which was one of President Hichilema’s key campaign promises.

The school feeding programme, once nearly defunct, now covers all 116 districts — a significant leap from under 60% coverage during PF’s tenure.

He also noted that university lecturers, once unpaid and constantly striking, now receive salaries on time, and that meal allowances have been reinstated and extended across seven public universities — up from just two under PF.

The PF froze health sector recruitment, leading to staffing shortages across the country.

In contrast, UPND has hired over 14,000 health workers and constructed over 1,000 health posts using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources.

The budget allocation for medicine and medical supplies, which languished at 30% under PF, has now been raised to over 75%, with the overall health budget growing from K1.6 billion to K4.2 billion.

Simuuwe said the PF failed to disburse a K1.6 million CDF allocation, which the UPND cleared.

Today, the CDF stands at K36.1 million per constituency — funds being used to build infrastructure and create jobs at the grassroots level. Salaries owed to council workers for up to 15 months have also been settled.

Over 258,000 farmers who had been left unpaid by the PF government have since received their dues.

The UPND has also introduced the winter maize programme, supporting 17,000 farmers with irrigation technology, an initiative not implemented by the previous administration.

The PF allocated K41 million to the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) in 2021 but disbursed only K10 million.

The UPND has increased this figure to K397 million in 2025 alone, with successful empowerment projects now visible countrywide.

The Lusaka–Ndola dual carriageway, priced at over $2.2 billion under PF, is now being implemented at less than half that cost.

Simuuwe said PF abandoned key infrastructure projects like Kafulafuta Dam and hydroelectric plants, which have since been completed by UPND.

He also noted that load-shedding under PF reached 23 hours per day despite no drought, whereas today, the government is managing the crisis more responsibly amid actual climate stress.

Under Lungu, fewer than five international airlines operated through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. 

Today, more than 14 international carriers, including routes from Turkey, Angola, Uganda, and Mozambique, are flying into Lusaka — attributed to President Hichilema’s diplomatic efforts and economic reforms.

Simuuwe accused Mr. Lungu of plunging Zambia into unsustainable debt without tangible benefits. He noted that the UPND government has restructured loans from China and Eurobond holders, while dismantling more than 75% of domestic debt. 

The economic freeze, stalled wages, and collapsed projects of the PF era, he said, are being reversed.

“Mr. Lungu destroyed Zambia’s mining sector,” Simuuwe said, citing the liquidation of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and mismanagement of Mopani Copper Mines, which he said led to over 20,000 job losses.

 The UPND has since revived both operations, attracted billion-dollar investments at Mopani and Lumwana, and seen Kalumbila become the site of Africa’s largest nickel project.

The UPND government has abolished the death penalty, enacted the Access to Information Law, and maintained media freedoms — with no media house shut down since assuming power. 

This, Simuuwe contrasted with PF's record of political violence, media censorship, and gun culture.

Simuuwe said under Lungu’s watch, corruption was rampant, including theft of social cash transfer funds and illegal mukula exports. 

“Even Mr. Lungu admitted his ministers were corrupt, but no action was taken,” he said. Under the UPND, officials involved in corruption are being prosecuted, and no serving minister has been implicated.

PF left a $700 million debt to oil marketing companies while pretending to subsidize fuel. UPND has been gradually paying this off.

 Meanwhile, the long-promised partial NAPSA withdrawals have been implemented, offering relief to citizens.

Mealie meal, which had reached K280 under PF, now sells for K230 through the Zambia National Service (ZNS). 

Despite global economic pressures, the Kwacha has remained more stable under UPND, avoiding the dramatic 300% depreciation experienced during PF’s tenure.

Simuuwe dismissed former President Lungu’s remarks as political opportunism. “Zambians remember the hardship they endured,” he said. 

“They also see the direction this country is now taking — one of restoration, responsibility, and real progress.”