Free Education Is Now Law, Not a Campaign Promise NDC says UPND


fulfilled a long-standing commitment by making education access a legal right, urges voters to support Hichilema’s continued leadership

Lusaka,  Zambia24 – (12-07-2026) - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the introduction of free education under the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration represents a major shift in Zambia’s education system because the policy is now backed by law and no longer merely an electoral pledge.

NDC Secretary General Kennedy Siyanda said free education is a fundamental right for every citizen and should be understood within Zambia’s historical experience with education policies.

Mr Siyanda said the United National Independence Party (UNIP) government introduced free education after independence, but the policy was later discontinued following the party’s defeat in the 1991 general elections.

He said the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) administration removed the policy as it focused on rebuilding the economy, resulting in parents taking responsibility for school fees and other education-related costs.

Mr Siyanda said the policy remained absent during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration, where former Education Minister Davies Mabumba rejected calls for the reintroduction of free education.

He, however, said the UPND had consistently promoted free education as part of its policy agenda since the party’s formation in 1998.

“The difference between UNIP and the New Dawn Administration is that free education is now legal. This is the uniqueness of free education; it is not just a slogan but a reality,” Mr Siyanda said.

He said the policy had expanded beyond primary and secondary education, with government also supporting skills development through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), where students pursuing various skills programmes receive financial support.

Mr Siyanda said the initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to reducing barriers to education by ensuring that learners and students are not excluded because of financial challenges.

He accused opposition parties of misrepresenting the status of free education, arguing that the policy had become an established right under the current administration.

The NDC has since appealed to registered voters to support President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND in the August 13, 2026 general elections to allow the continuation of the free education programme.

“Let us vote for the continuation of free education. This fundamental right is now law,” Mr Siyanda said.

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