Opinion / Columnist
Hichilema's nightmare
09 Nov 2024 at 17:35hrs | Views
Zambia's former President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has returned as the presidential candidate for an eight-party opposition coalition, TONSE ("All of Us"), turning into reality a long-dreaded nightmare for Hakainde Hichilema. Ever since defeating Lungu in 2022, Hichilema has been a catastrophic disappointment, failing to deliver the change he promised. His administration has become a symbol of betrayal to those who once supported him, losing the trust of a nation disillusioned by his hollow promises and empty Western rhetoric.
The announcement of Lungu as TONSE's candidate for 2026 has sent shockwaves through Zambia. He is seen by many as a seasoned leader, ideologically in tune with the struggles of the Zambian people, and a much-needed alternative to Hichilema's failed governance. Comparisons to Brazil's Lula da Silva and the United States' Donald Trump are now emerging, both leaders who returned to power after their successors' abysmal failures. With Hichilema's regime sinking, Lungu's path back to power seems all but assured.
Hichilema's petty, vindictive campaign to silence and humiliate Lungu - restricting his movements, stripping him of constitutional rights, and treating him as a criminal - has only strengthened Lungu's support base. Hichilema's relentless personal persecution of Lungu reveals a leader more obsessed with clinging to power than governing. The people of Zambia, seeing through this desperate charade, are ready to welcome back a leader who left a legacy of progress - one Hichilema has done nothing but undermine.
Lungu's return has also cast a shadow over the anti-revolutionary celebrations of western-backed opposition groups, such as Zimbabwe's Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Lungu's pan-Africanist ideals and his unapologetic stance against imperialist agendas remind these forces that true liberation movements in the region remain strong, despite Hichilema's failed attempts to erase their legacy.
The announcement of Lungu as TONSE's candidate for 2026 has sent shockwaves through Zambia. He is seen by many as a seasoned leader, ideologically in tune with the struggles of the Zambian people, and a much-needed alternative to Hichilema's failed governance. Comparisons to Brazil's Lula da Silva and the United States' Donald Trump are now emerging, both leaders who returned to power after their successors' abysmal failures. With Hichilema's regime sinking, Lungu's path back to power seems all but assured.
Hichilema's petty, vindictive campaign to silence and humiliate Lungu - restricting his movements, stripping him of constitutional rights, and treating him as a criminal - has only strengthened Lungu's support base. Hichilema's relentless personal persecution of Lungu reveals a leader more obsessed with clinging to power than governing. The people of Zambia, seeing through this desperate charade, are ready to welcome back a leader who left a legacy of progress - one Hichilema has done nothing but undermine.
Lungu's return has also cast a shadow over the anti-revolutionary celebrations of western-backed opposition groups, such as Zimbabwe's Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Lungu's pan-Africanist ideals and his unapologetic stance against imperialist agendas remind these forces that true liberation movements in the region remain strong, despite Hichilema's failed attempts to erase their legacy.
Source - byo24news
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