President Hakainde Hichilema has assured the nation that Zambia will hold free, fair, and credible elections this year.
Speaking during a special meeting with councillors and the Local Government Association of Zambia at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Mr. Hichilema said the integrity of the electoral process will depend on the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
The President stressed that there will be no room for violence, warning that anyone promoting violence should be denounced. He said the era of bloodshed and the use of pangas, sticks, and stones in politics is long gone, adding that Zambia will not return to what he described as ‘lawlessness’ experienced in 2021.
Mr. Hichilema further urged councillors to align themselves with Government’s development agenda to drive economic growth across provinces. He acknowledged that sidelining councillors in development efforts in the past was a mistake, noting that they play a critical role in national development.
