The Chingola riots over economic hardships are not just protests – they are the death knell of a presidency that promised change but delivered misery.
By Mpandashalo Mwewa.
Lusaka, April 3 – The streets of Chingola, once a stronghold of the 2021 regime change movement, are now ablaze with discontent. Riots against economic hardships have erupted, marking the beginning of the end for the false-promising UPND government. The frustration is not unfounded – President Hichilema rode to power on the backs of struggling Zambians, promising economic revival, job creation, and a return to prosperity.
Also Read: Kapwepwe warned us. Did we listen? “If we don’t handle our independence very well, colonizers will come back in the form of investors.” – Kapwepwe.
Instead, the people have been met with worsening conditions, skyrocketing costs of living, and blatant mismanagement of key economic assets. The writing is on the wall: the people who handed him victory are now leading his political funeral procession.
Dr. James Musonda, a socio-political anthropologist at Université de Liége, once warned that Hichilema’s political survival hinged on how he handled Konkola Copper Mines (KCM). If he handed it back to Vedanta, the mining giant would not be his saviour but his political undertaker, with Vedanta’s capital serving as the shovels that bury his career.
True to this prophecy, Hichilema ignored calls for transparency and fairness, opting instead to corruptly handle the KCM and Mopani Mine contracts. The result? A Copperbelt region in turmoil, signaling the inevitable collapse of his political reign. No party has ever won Zambia’s presidency without securing the Copperbelt, Lusaka, and, to a large extent, the North Eastern provinces. With these regions turning against him, Hichilema’s chances of re-election are all but dead.
Also Read: Kuomboka Under Siege: Hichilema’s Dictatorship Creeps into Tradition! By blocking King Letsie III from attending the Kuomboka Ceremony while imposing his own presence, President Hichilema tightens his dictatorial grip on Zambia’s cultural institutions, turning sacred traditions into political battlegrounds.
A wise leader would read the signs and exit the stage before being dragged off in disgrace. But wisdom has never been Hichilema’s strong suit – arrogance and deflection have. He may choose to cling to power, dismissing the riots as isolated incidents, but history is unkind to leaders who ignore the anger of the masses.
The people of Chingola are not just rioting over mine contracts; they are rejecting an entire presidency built on deceit and failed promises. The end is near. Whether Hichilema steps down voluntarily or is forced out by the ballot in 2026, one thing is certain: his time is up.
About The Author: Mpandashalo Mwewa, currently the Chief Editor at Woodpecker’s Digest, formerly held the same role at Zambia Reports. Known for championing Pan-African education reforms with a focus on critical thinking, he employs journalism to instigate social transformation.
Our Mission: Woodpecker’s Digest delivers in-depth analyses and commentaries on critical issues of national interest, alongside insightful content on personal development and health. We uphold journalism as a driving force for socio-economic transformation.
©2025 Woodpecker’s Digest.
Journalism for social change.
