Moving Forward, Not Even a Glance Back, Why the UPND Government Must Choose Development Over Retribution. By Lt Col Christopher Phiri Rtd, Social media is no longer an emerging trend or a temporary distraction, it is a permanent fixture of our national fabric and the modern public square. It is time to stop arguing over […]

Moving Forward, Not Even a Glance Back, Why the UPND Government Must Choose Development Over Retribution.

By Lt Col Christopher Phiri Rtd,

Social media is no longer an emerging trend or a temporary distraction, it is a permanent fixture of our national fabric and the modern public square.

It is time to stop arguing over its existence and start working with it. In a democracy, when the electorate hands over the mantle of leadership, the mandate is clear, you take the baton, you run forward with everything you have and you never look back.

For President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration, this philosophy must become their absolute north star.

Following the August 2026 general elections, the country stands at a critical crossroads. Speaking at a State House swearing in ceremony on September 25, 2026, President Hichilema rightly declared to the nation that “there is no crisis in this country,” urging Zambians to accept the democratic outcome, drop post election anxieties and move on.

The President’s words are timely, but they must be backed by a steadfast refusal to engage in political score settling.

The UPND government cannot afford to waste a single drop of state energy, time or resources on “fixing” people or fighting yesterday’s political battles.

History has shown that when an administration consumes itself with prosecuting past rivalries, it is the average citizen who suffers. The real enemies of Zambia are not political dissidents or loud critics on social media, the real enemies are poverty, inflation, unemployment, and economic stagnation.

To achieve the administration’s “Grow Zambia” agenda, President Hakainde Hichilema and would be his ministers require an unwavering focus on the horizon.

The government recently cautioned against using social media to circulate falsehoods that could drive away foreign capital. The best antidote to negative digital chatter is a roaring economy.

By focusing entirely on structural reforms, creating sustainable jobs, and stabilizing the kwacha, the government can create a narrative of success that no online rumor can tear down.

The President’s decision to skip the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for a third consecutive year to save public funds is exactly the kind of forward thinking fiscal discipline the country needs.

These saved resources must be directly funneled into local development, agriculture and healthcare.

Leaders who look backward see a divided nation of “us versus them.” Leaders who look forward see a unified workforce ready to rebuild. The election is over; the time for campaigning has passed.

When you are given the privilege to lead a nation, your eyes must be firmly fixed on the windshield, not the rearview mirror. The UPND government has been handed the mantle of power for a defining chapter in Zambia’s history.

The mandate from the people is not a license to settle old scores, it is an urgent command to build a prosperous future. Run forward, Mr. President and do not look back.

Lt Col Christopher Phiri Rtd is a
former Political Commissar.
Col Phiri is a retired military officer who was responsible for political education, morale and ensuring ideological alignment with the ruling United National Independence party the within Zambia Army.