DP Endorses HH for August 13 Polls

Kabemba says  Progression rate made in Education and Mining and the fight corruption  are reasons enough to merit HH go for the secpnd term

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (10-03-2026) --- The opposition has endorsed incumbent President for the August 13 presidential and general elections, with the party announcing it will campaign for his re-election while focusing on strengthening its own structures ahead of the polls.

DP president said told journalists at the media briefing this morning that, the decision followed an internal assessment of the party’s performance and consultations with citizens across the country.

Kabemba said the party had resolved not to field its own presidential candidate but would instead rally behind Hichilema, arguing that the current administration had made progress in key sectors and should be allowed to continue implementing its policies.

“The Democratic Party will support and rally behind President Hakainde Hichilema. We are going to go flat out and campaign for him, and we are very certain that he will return for a second term because the work he has done so far speaks for itself,” Kabemba said.

She said the party had reflected on its performance in the 2021 general elections where it participated in presidential, parliamentary and local government races but secured only about 24,000 votes nationwide.

Kabemba said the party had since conducted consultations with voters to understand the reasons behind its poor performance.

“We sat down as a party and analysed why we performed so badly. When we asked the people of Zambia, they told us that they liked our party and our manifesto, but they did not have confidence in the presidential candidate we presented,” she said.

She said the party had learned lessons from that experience and would now focus on building stronger structures across the country while contesting parliamentary and local government seats.

Government Performance

Kabemba said the party’s decision to support Hichilema was also influenced by the government’s performance in key sectors, particularly education.

She described the introduction of free education as one of the most significant social policies implemented by the current administration, saying it had enabled many children from poor families to return to school.

“A country that has educated citizens is a wealthy country. When citizens are educated, they develop critical minds that contribute to production and industrialisation,” Kabemba said.

She said free education had brought relief to many families that previously struggled to keep their children in school.

“Many parents could not afford school fees, uniforms or other requirements. Some children were being kept by grandparents who could not manage to support them. Free education has brought life and happiness to many families,” she said.

Kabemba also commended the government for reinstating meal allowances and bursaries for university students.

She noted that the removal of meal allowances in the past had forced many students into difficult situations, with some engaging in harmful activities just to survive.

“That decision created chaos in our universities because students had no support. Some young people ended up being exploited simply because they needed money for food,” she said.

She said the restoration of meal allowances had allowed students to focus on their studies without worrying about basic needs.

Kabemba further acknowledged the government’s recruitment of more than 42,000 teachers and the construction of additional classroom blocks across the country.

She said the employment of teachers had helped improve the teacher–pupil ratio in many schools, noting that in the past some teachers handled more than 100 pupils in a single classroom.

However, she urged government to complement these efforts by investing more in learning facilities such as science laboratories, computer laboratories and technical workshops.

“It is one thing to bring many children back to school, but it is another thing to ensure effective teaching and learning. Schools must have laboratories, computers and other facilities if we are to improve the quality of education,” Kabemba said.

She also proposed the construction of at least two boarding schools in each province to expand access to education, suggesting that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) could be used to support such projects.

Mining Sector

Kabemba also commented on developments in the mining sector, saying the revival of mining operations had helped restore economic activity, particularly on the Copperbelt.

She noted that before the current administration came into office, some major mines were not operating and production had declined significantly.

Kabemba said the situation had caused serious hardship for miners and their families, especially when some companies went for long periods without paying workers.

She commended the government for resolving disputes surrounding major mining operations and restoring stability in the sector.

However, she said government must now ensure that mining companies declare their production accurately and pay the correct taxes.

“In the past, some companies would under-declare what they were mining so that they could avoid paying taxes. Government must put in place a proper system to ensure that there is no under-declaration of copper, gold or other minerals,” Kabemba said.

She said Zambia must ensure that the country benefits fully from its natural resources.

Kabemba also urged mining companies to strengthen their corporate social responsibility programmes.

She said communities living near mining operations often face environmental and social challenges but do not always benefit from the resources extracted from their areas.

“You cannot conduct mining in an area and the local people do not benefit from your operations. Mining has consequences, both positive and negative, and communities must benefit,” she said.

Kabemba further called on mining companies to improve the welfare of workers, including better salaries, incentives and bonuses when production targets are met.

“Life underground is not easy. Miners work under very difficult conditions, and they deserve fair salaries and incentives. When production targets are achieved, bonuses should also be paid,” she said.

Constitutional Reforms

Kabemba also defended the recently enacted , saying the reforms had been widely misunderstood during the public debate.

She said the Democratic Party supported the constitutional amendments because they would improve representation and create opportunities for wider participation in governance.

Kabemba said some opposition parties and civil society groups had spread misinformation during the debate by claiming that the bill sought to extend the presidential term or remove the 50-plus-one electoral requirement.

“People were told that the bill was meant to increase the presidential term to seven years or remove the 50 plus one requirement. Those claims were not in the bill,” she said.

Kabemba said the constitutional reforms would help increase representation through the delimitation of constituencies and improve opportunities for women, youths and persons with disabilities to participate in Parliament.

She said the reforms were particularly significant for women, who have long complained about underrepresentation in the National Assembly.

“With the new provisions, more women can be nominated to Parliament. This is something we should celebrate because women have always complained that their numbers in Parliament are too small,” Kabemba said.

Women’s Participation in Politics

Kabemba also called on women across the country to actively participate in the upcoming elections by contesting leadership positions.

She urged women to stand as candidates for parliamentary, mayoral and council chairperson positions.

“This is an election year, and we want women to come out and contest for leadership positions. Women must not be afraid to step forward,” she said.

However, she strongly warned party officials responsible for adopting candidates against exploiting women seeking adoption.

“Men who are in charge of adoptions in political parties must stop demanding sexual favours from women in exchange for adoption. That practice is unacceptable,” Kabemba said.

She also called for stronger laws to protect women and children, including tougher measures against rape, defilement and early marriages.

Kabemba further urged women’s organisations, churches and civil society groups to work together in identifying and supporting women candidates ahead of the elections.

“We must identify women who want to contest leadership positions and support them so that they can succeed,” she said.

The Democratic Party is expected to hold its general conference in the coming weeks where it will elect party leaders and finalise its strategy for participation in the August 13 presidential and general elections.