HH defends second-term bid as Zambia braces for polls…as he confronts BBC over surginng living costs, insisting his economic reforms need time to deliver for struggling citizens

HH defends second-term bid as Zambia braces for polls…as he confronts BBC over surginng living costs, insisting his economic reforms need time to deliver for struggling citizens By DAVID KANDUZAPRESIDENT Hakainde Hichelema has aggressively defended his governance track record in an exclusive interview, warning that the country’s future hinges on continuing his long-term economic reforms. […]

HH defends second-term bid as Zambia braces for polls
…as he confronts BBC over surginng living costs, insisting his economic reforms need time to deliver for struggling citizens

By DAVID KANDUZA
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichelema has aggressively defended his governance track record in an exclusive interview, warning that the country’s future hinges on continuing his long-term economic reforms.

With Zambia heading to the polls on August 13, 2026, what was initially predicted to be a smooth re-election ride for the incumbent has rapidly transformed into a fiercely contested showdown.

Voters are increasingly focusing their frustrations on a soaring cost of living, high youth unemployment and the daily realities of an economy that many argue had left ordinary citizens behind.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hichilema pushed back against critics, pleading for patience from an increasingly restless electorate.

He argued that structural transformations take time to yield tangible results, urging voters to look at the foundational improvements his administration had made since taking office in 2021.

However, public sentiment on the ground tells a much more complicated story:

The upcoming general election is widely being framed as a direct referendum on Mr Hichilema’s economic management.

While the President highlighter macroeconomic indicators, debt restructuring milestones and mining sector negotiations, opposition leader Brian Mundubile has capitalised on the disconnect between these official statistics and the lived hardships of the public.

With just days remaining before millions of Zambians cast their ballots, political tensions were mounting.

Mr Hichilema’s high-stakes media blitz underscored the urgency of the moment as he fights to convince voters that his administration remained the right vehicle to steer the nation forward.