⬆️DIGEST: Hichilema Rallies UPND to Strengthen Local Structures Ahead of 2026 Polls
President Hakainde Hichilema used Sunday’s United Party for National Development (UPND) provincial indaba at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre to make one thing clear: the 2026 elections will be fought not just on policy but on local control.
The President told district leaders from across Lusaka Province that the ruling party must consolidate its presence in key councils to ensure smoother delivery of government programmes.
“We are finding it difficult executing works in those councils where we don’t have our council chairpersons and mayors,” Hichilema said. “We want to have our own mayor here in Lusaka.”
The remarks, though framed around coordination, underline a broader political reality. Since taking office in 2021, the UPND has struggled to implement projects in opposition-run municipalities such as Lusaka, Kitwe, and Ndola. While the Copperbelt has UPND mayors in several towns, the remaining urban strongholds under opposition control have become political and administrative bottlenecks
Hichilema’s push for party-aligned local leadership is an attempt to close that gap before the next election cycle.
The President also used the gathering to renew calls for discipline and unity within the ruling party. “UPND is the vehicle through which we were elected into public office, including this president. All appointed officials must always respect the party,” he told delegates. He urged district leaders to mobilise the grassroots and communicate the government’s record on free education, teacher and health worker recruitment, and job creation in the defence and security sectors.
But Hichilema’s tone also carried a note of frustration. He questioned how effective governance could be achieved when the ruling party holds fewer parliamentary seats than expected, and some lawmakers are choosing to sit as independents. Political analysts say his concern reflects a growing awareness of internal weakness ahead of 2026. “The president needs councillors, needs council chairpersons, mayors, MPs, and ministers,” he said, highlighting the link between political alignment and policy execution.
The warning comes amid rising public sentiment that several UPND MPs have underperformed. Lusaka lawyer Simon Mwila Mulenga recently observed that many ruling party lawmakers risk losing their seats in 2026, a prediction echoed in political circles that expect the next parliament to be more fragmented, possibly without a clear majority.
At Mulungushi, however, Hichilema struck an optimistic note, insisting that UPND’s unity, discipline, and focus remain its strongest assets. He reminded members that the party had survived years in opposition because of its resilience and commitment to national development. “No matter the challenges, together with Zambians, UPND will continue to do its level best in delivering a united and prosperous Zambia,” he said.
The meeting ended with a call for introspection within the party’s lower structures. For Hichilema, the path to 2026 will require not only policy wins but political cohesion, a test of whether the ruling party can translate its national mandate into local loyalty and sustained credibility on the ground.
© The People’s Brief | Digest