During his speech in parliament, His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema shocked the nation when he claimed that some lacunas in the Zambian constitution could lead the country to having no general election for 8 or 9 years. In the same vein, he added that his own Government was committed to facilitating a process to address these lacunas in the constitution, promising to deploy a least-cost, efficient, and credible process. Many political commentators have branded this comment as careless and one that shows a President out of depth when dealing with the problems facing Zambia.
Pulse News spoke to several people, and some indicated that the only lacunas Hichilema should be worried about are those around power shortages, inflation, cost of living, social protection, and unfulfilled promises. Zambians are aware that Hichilema’s UPND assumed power on the back of several promises that remain largely unfulfilled. Others expressed opinions that “constitutional lacunas are at the moment not a priority for many Zambians.” Some have asked, “Has the President given up, or did he not have any ambition to begin with?”
African studies on the nature of politics in Africa show a high and deep-rooted tendency of Presidents to alter constitutions as part of strategies to stay in power. Specifically, maneuvers to amend constitutions are not new in Africa, including in the history of Zambia as a country. As a result, one might be tempted to argue that these pronouncements are not a mistake, but a well-calculated maneuver by Hichilema to assess the mood in the country as a move to hatch strategies to retain power.
Previous reports by historian Sishuwa Sishuwa in African Arguments (2023) reveal the President’s five-point plan to stay in power at all costs: 1) contain the Catholic Church, 2) co-opt influential elites from civil society, 3) capture the electoral body and pack the courts, 4) weaken opposition parties, and 5) cover corruption tracks.
Once again, Hichilema failed to read the mood in the country. Our opinion is that Hichilema’s speech shows a President in desperate waters and out of ideas. Be in no doubt—the President is in deep trouble. Hichilema would do well to focus on his promises to the people of Zambia, as these would help him better retain power than constitutional amendments.
