Veteran politician Prince Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika says President Hakainde Hichilema is on his way out of State House and that the Head of State’s current tours across the country are not campaigns, but farewell visits to the Zambian people.
Speaking after recovering from a police tear-gassing incident in Mongu last week, Akashambatwa said the attack only strengthened his resolve to campaign for change ahead of the August 13 general elections.
He was in Mongu to drum up support for Tonse Pamodzi Alliance-backed presidential candidate Brian Mundubile when police fired tear gas to disperse a gathering.
According to a report by Muvi Television, Akashambatwa said the experience confirmed what he and other opposition voices have been saying about the current administration.
“When the tear gas got into my eyes, I felt that it was a confirmation that we were right to speak against this government. So being tear-gassed is nothing. Africans have died for African freedom in many numbers,” he said.
Akashambatwa is a founding member of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy and currently serves as co-chairperson of the Council of Elders that has endorsed Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu. He said the manner in which the police handled the Mongu meeting exposed the character of those in power.
“I’m quite happy that they have revealed how devilish they are, and we are not afraid,” he said. “Tear-gassing peaceful citizens is a clear demonstration that we have a bad government. I will not ever support a government which tear-gasses opponents. And they demonstrated that, and I’m sorry for the general public, the citizens who suffered under that tear gas. Your suffering is not in vain.”
The veteran politician argued that President Hichilema’s recent trips to various provinces should be understood differently from normal campaign activity. In his view, the President is aware that his time in office is ending and is moving around to bid farewell.
He linked the Mongu incident to a broader pattern he says Zambians have witnessed in the last few years, where dissent is met with force rather than dialogue. He said such actions would backfire at the polls because people remember how they were treated.
Akashambatwa said the Council of Elders and the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance remain committed to peaceful campaigning, and that what happened in Mongu would not deter them. He called on supporters to remain calm but determined, saying the best response to intimidation is to turn out in large numbers on August 13.
The August 13 election is expected to be closely contested, with the ruling UPND seeking a second term and the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance positioning itself as the main challenger. The alliance has been holding rallies in Western Province and other parts of the country in the final weeks before voting.
There was no immediate response from State House or the Zambia Police Service to Akashambatwa’s remarks by press time.
The Council of Elders has in recent weeks intensified its public engagements, saying it is offering guidance to ensure the elections are free, fair and peaceful. Akashambatwa said elders have a duty to speak out when they see governance going wrong, and that their endorsement of Mundubile was based on a desire to restore what he called respect for citizens and democratic space.
He concluded by saying that despite the tear gas, his commitment to the campaign remains firm, and that Zambians deserve a government that listens rather than one that silences opponents.