Zambia : The Democratic Risks Of Rally‑Based Hiring: Examining President Hichilema’s Rally Strategy

By Venus N Msyani

What looked like a slip at a rally on July 15, 2026, in Isoka, Muchinga Province has been a defining feature of President Hakainde Hichilema’s campaign trail. At that rally, he instructed staff to collect the names of volunteer nurses in attendance and promised them permanent employment. Critics immediately condemned the gesture, arguing it violated democratic norms and blurred the line between public service and political campaigning.

The following day, at a rally in Mporokoso District in Northern Province, Hichilema repeated the act after noticing the number of volunteer medical staff present. What seemed like an isolated moment quickly evolved into a pattern: job announcements at nearly every rally.

This escalation fits a broader behavioral trend. When Hichilema first twerked at a rally, critics called the act unbecoming of a head of state. Instead of retreating, he twerked again and again until it became a routine part of rally entertainment. The same dynamic is now visible with job offers. Criticism of the Isoka incident did not deter him; it intensified the practice.

In Mpulungu, he ordered immediate employment for volunteer nurses. In Pemba in Southern Province, he promised jobs and even announced start dates. In Chibombo District in Central Province, he approved instant hiring for nurses who attended his rally.

On July 27, 2026, in Livingstone, he declared: “From today, I, Hakainde Hichilema, Bally, Chimina, Chambwabwa, Chituko Tunji, have given jobs to all these nurses who are here.” The crowd responded with rhythmic “aha” chants, turning the announcement into a celebratory spectacle and revealing that many attendees were present primarily for the chance to secure employment.

The President has also begun redoing rallies in provinces he already visited. Repeat events in Eastern and Northwestern Provinces have drawn larger crowds, reinforcing the impression that many attendees are motivated by job opportunities rather than political enthusiasm.

Crowd size carries enormous symbolic weight in Zambian politics. Candidates routinely use music, mascots, comedy, and dance to attract supporters. There is nothing inherently wrong with that; rallies are meant to energize voters. But turning rallies into hiring events appears designed to serve the same purpose; drawing larger crowds. When examined critically, however, the practice carries risks that extend beyond campaign theatrics.

One concern is self‑deception. Since Hichilema began offering jobs at rallies, attendance has surged. This may reinforce his belief that he is overwhelmingly popular. Given his history of struggling to accept election defeat, inflated confidence could complicate matters if he loses on August 13.

Large crowds can create an illusion of universal support, especially when attendance is driven by the possibility of employment rather than political conviction. A rally filled with job seekers may not reflect genuine voter enthusiasm.

Another concern is civil service polarization. Offering government jobs at campaign rallies blurs the line between public service and partisan loyalty. It risks creating a civil service that feels indebted to a political figure rather than to the nation. Civil servants should be hired through transparent, merit‑based processes; not through campaign events where political allegiance may be implied. When public employment becomes intertwined with political participation, the neutrality of state institutions is threatened.

Fairness is also at stake. Citizens who cannot attend rallies, due to distance, disability, work obligations, or political preference, are effectively excluded from these opportunities. This creates unequal access to public employment and undermines the principle that government jobs should be awarded based on qualifications, not proximity to campaign activities.

The international community, invited election observers, and organizations promoting credible elections may need to weigh in. Does offering civil service jobs at campaign rallies in an election year align with democratic norms? Is it meaningfully different from vote bribery? These questions matter because they touch on fairness, accountability, and the integrity of public institutions.

Election observers often scrutinize the use of state resources during campaigns, and rally‑based hiring may fall within that scope.

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