By Katoka Mweenda Watching a baby girl bleed from a bullet fired by the police—simply because she wanted to see Brian Mundubile—broke my heart. Seeing women bleeding from United Party for National Development (UPND) cadre violence makes me question who is truly in control of this…

By Katoka Mweenda

Watching a baby girl bleed from a bullet fired by the police—simply because she wanted to see Brian Mundubile—broke my heart. Seeing women bleeding from United Party for National Development (UPND) cadre violence makes me question who is truly in control of this country. Watching families bury their loved ones because of partisan thugs makes one wonder if Hakainde Hichilema even deserves the title of President of Zambia.

It is shameful that individuals are openly breaking the law in President Hichilema’s name. This lawlessness speaks to a serious lack of ubuntu; he appears willing to let Zambia burn just to hold onto power.

We are a democracy, and Hichilema is not the first leader to face formidable opposition. However, he is the first to oversee an environment where a toddler is shot, citizens are killed, and cadres beat ordinary citizens while wearing his face on their clothing and driving his campaign vehicles. The police exist to protect us, yet our streets are being turned into death chambers.

As the Commander-in-Chief, President Hichilema has failed the nation. He vowed to protect all Zambians from enemies both internal and external. This is the fundamental duty of the presidency. To continue chanting slogans of “peace” at his campaign rallies while his cadres terrorize opposition members and ordinary citizens is the height of hypocrisy. It simply exposes him to more public resentment–people’s desire for change grows with rage. Thinking UPND members are forced to ask, if we voted out PF because violence, why should I give my vote to another violent regime? This is an existential question for Hichilema.

But it has consequential implications. As a nation, we must realize that while the President enjoys immunity, the rest of us have only one life to live. Mundubile’s pledge to protect Hichilema from prosecution should his party win the upcoming polls only enables this reckless behavior in the future. We must declare right now that anyone terrorizing Zambians and their enablers will be prosecuted, whether in 2026 or 2031–they cannot be allowed to walk free. To grant them immunity only implies that future leadership will simply repeat these atrocities.

Moreover, the police work under orders, and President Hichilema is the Commander-in-Chief. By failing to act, he allows these cadres to abuse citizens in his name. That these thugs have the audacity to attack people while clad in UPND attire is an indelible stain on Hichilema’s character. What does it say about a leader when his official campaign vehicles are used to commit violent crimes? It is no longer enough to call out the thugs while leaving Hichilema untouched. The President bears ultimate responsibility for this ongoing violence—by his silence, he has effectively endorsed it.

Who is blind to the double standard of justice under the HH regime? Why is it that the ruling party’s campaigns are protected by the police while those of the opposition are met with brutality? Why is it that the President and his party are never blocked by law enforcement? Why do violent cadres move freely, even in the presence of the police? Why are known vehicles of ruling party candidates being used to abduct and beat opponents?
We cannot dismiss this as standard campaign friction; the victims are always from the opposition. For Mundubile to promise a pardon for such behavior is unacceptable. Every police officer, cadre, and official involved must answer for their actions.

Enough of playing politics with human lives. Enough of singing praises to a man who lacks the courage to stop his own thugs from abusing his name and party. Enough of calling him a leader when his administration behaves like a mob. Zambia deserves better than a leadership stained with blood.

Mr. Hichilema must understand that while political tension existed in 2021, tactics of intimidation will not work this time around. In 2021, his strategy relied on blaming the PF. That worked because he was in the opposition, but today he is the one in control. He holds all instruments of power and his militarized cadres will be held accountable. Believing that violence will compensate for a drop in popularity is naive; everyday citizens are only alienated by the behavior of his cadres.

The President may dance around, but Zambians are watching. The PF was voted out because of cadreism, and Hichilema is on track to become the next victim of the very same vice. The fact that blood is being shed in the Southern Province and other UPND strongholds simply exposes his desperation. Today, he is the boss, but tomorrow he will be an ordinary citizen. When that day comes, Zambians will not be forgiving.