Economic Gains Must Be Protected

Hikaumba urged the Zambian electorate to re-elect HH, saying Zambia must safeguard economic recoveries, jobs and development progress made under the UPND administration

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — (26-05-2026) — The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has urged Zambians to support President in the August 13 general elections, saying the country’s economic recovery and development progress must be protected through continuity in leadership.

MDC vice president told journalists in an interview that President Hichilema deserves another term, saying his administration has delivered economic stabilisation, debt restructuring, job creation and improved public service delivery.

Hikaumba said citizens are already beginning to feel the impact of ongoing reforms, reflected in improved access to education, employment opportunities and development projects across the country.

He said Zambia previously faced high debt, rising living costs and limited government capacity to deliver services, which slowed development and strained public finances.

According to Hikaumba, debt restructuring helped ease fiscal pressure and allowed government to redirect resources towards key development programmes and public services.

He said this has supported recruitment in essential sectors such as education and health, helping improve service delivery nationwide.

Hikaumba further said the expansion of free education has reduced financial pressure on families and increased school attendance among children.

He added that increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations have supported local development projects, including classrooms, clinics and community infrastructure.

Hikaumba said the economy has shown signs of stabilisation, including reduced inflation, improved currency performance and renewed investor confidence.

He also cited increased activity in the mining sector as a driver of job creation and economic recovery.

“Zambia is on a recovery path, and people are already seeing the difference in their communities. This progress must be protected and allowed to continue under President Hichilema,” Hikaumba said.

He added that improved international confidence in Zambia has helped attract investment and strengthen cooperation with partners.

Meanwhile, Hikaumba said he had accepted the decision by the UPND Alliance not to adopt him as parliamentary candidate for Mwembezhi West Constituency and pledged support for and other alliance candidates ahead of the elections.

He said supporting Milambo was important for maintaining unity within the alliance, warning that internal divisions could weaken the collective goal of delivering development to the people.

Hikaumba said the alliance’s strength lies in teamwork and shared purpose, adding that once candidates are adopted, all members must rally behind them to avoid splitting support at constituency level.

He noted that backing Milambo would help consolidate votes in Mwembezhi West and strengthen the alliance’s overall performance in the general elections.

Hikaumba further said he had chosen to place the interests of the alliance above individual ambitions, stressing that unity remains critical in ensuring President Hichilema and all alliance candidates secure victory.

He urged supporters and aspiring candidates who were not adopted to remain disciplined and continue mobilising for the common cause, saying internal competition should not override the broader goal of national development.