ELECTIONS ARE OVER, LET’S WORK FOR ZAMBIA

NDC urges opposition to embrace peace, accept legal processes and focus on development

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 – September 2, 2026 — The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on opposition parties and their supporters to put aside political differences and work with President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, saying the country must now shift its attention from elections to development.

NDC Secretary General Kennedy Siyanda told Zambia24 that the 2026 general elections are over, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has declared the winner and the Chief Justice has ratified the election outcome, leaving the country to move forward as one.

Siyanda congratulated President Hichilema on his inauguration as President of the Republic of Zambia and appealed to political leaders to make peace, unity and reconciliation the priority.

Siyanda said the NDC was making the appeal against the backdrop of what it described as President Hichilema’s decision to pursue reconciliation rather than political retaliation after coming to power in 2021.

He said opposition leaders had expected Mr Hichilema to turn against his political rivals after winning the presidency, but instead he chose to embrace some of them and appoint others to key positions in his administration.

“The opposition expected Dr Hichilema to retaliate once he ascended to the presidency but he didn't. He opted to embrace his rivals and even appointed many to key positions in the New Dawn Administration,” Siyanda said.

He said the same spirit of reconciliation should now be embraced by the opposition and its supporters as Zambia begins another chapter following the 2026 elections.

Siyanda urged political parties to put their differences aside and concentrate on issues that directly affect ordinary Zambians, particularly education, healthcare and other areas of national development.

He argued that the opposition has an important role to play in this process, especially with more than 70 parliamentary seats, which will give opposition lawmakers an opportunity to participate in decisions around Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources and other development programmes.

“Let's therefore all work together to ensure that our citizens are provided with better education, health and other development benefits,” he said.

The NDC, however, acknowledged that some opposition candidates who lost in the elections have chosen to challenge the results in court.

Siyanda said such candidates were exercising their legal right and should be allowed to pursue their grievances through the courts rather than allowing electoral disputes to spill into the streets or fuel political tension.

“We are also aware that many losing candidates have decided to petition their losses. This is their right as appeals are done within the court corridors,” he said.

The party also noted that some opposition leaders remain in detention, but maintained that the current political circumstances should not be allowed to derail the broader need for peace and national unity.

“That aside, peace, unity and reconciliation are paramount today and beyond,” Siyanda said.

The NDC’s message comes as Zambia settles into a new political period following the 2026 elections, with the party urging both the ruling and opposition sides to move beyond electoral rivalry and concentrate on delivering for citizens.

For the NDC, the political contest may be over, but the work of building the country continues — and it says that work requires political leaders to find common ground despite their differences.

The party concluded by wishing President Hichilema well in his new term and calling on Zambians to celebrate his inauguration peacefully.

“God bless Zambia as we celebrate the inauguration of President Hakainde Hichilema,” Siyanda said.