As the race opens up for parliamentary seats in August 2026, the competition seems will tough this time especially in Southern Province.
The young Lads are up in arms against the Veterans who have served for a long time due to people’s inclination to UPND but with little to point at for years of being members of Parliament.
Mazabuka central Constituency is one of them. Long time MP and senior UPND official Gary Nkombo faces challenges with some young Aspirant who are pledging revolution changes starting with the parliamentary office.
Playson Hachintu is one of the Aspirants, here is what he is promising;
First of all, it is important to know where we are coming from; history of anything matters; we need to know where we are today and the reason why, so that we tell where we are going – where Mazabuka Central is going.
My Name is Playson Hachintu, Big Machines Waboonse, youth.
Born and raised in Mazabuka Central. Degree in Administration and Management with Mathematics from the University of Zambia (UNZA), with lucrative work experience.
Certification in Finance, Audit, Procurement and Supply, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Planning and Management, Contract Management, Computer Studies, etc.
Our constituency is punctuated by poor roads, poor markets, poor water system and sanitation, poor drainage system, poor healthcare services and facilities, etc.
To achieve sustainable development; to make Mazabuka Central rise again, we must first prioritize fundamental capital projects over short-term fixes.
If you elect me as your next MP, I pledge five things:
1). I will commit to Full-Time leadership. I will be the MP waboonse; for all the people of Mazabuka Central; and for all the nine wards of Mazabuka Central constituency.
I will continue residing in Mazabuka; am ready to sacrifice everything for the good people of Mazabuka Central; for a better Mazabuka Central.
My philosophy is very simple: the job of the MP is not a Part-time job where you just visit, you come and go, you come and go, and you come and go; the job of the MP is a Full-time job that requires and that demands total commitment to the people, to the constituency you serve.
You have to be there to see what people see; to feel what people feel; to go through what people go through; to witness and experience what people witness and experience as the only way to understand your constituency.
That is my philosophy, my childhood philosophy. We shall unite Mazabuka Central, no more political camps; there will be only one Mazabuka Central, one Mazabuka District, one people! Unity is my symbol.
2). Revamp the Mazabuka showground. Since we don’t have a public gathering place for public functions, national celebrations, local events, and youth empowerment activities, we shall demolish and remove all illegal structures/encroachments at our Show Ground except the New Bus Station.
We shall build a secure wall fence around to protect the showground.
The space will serve as a public venue for public functions, national celebrations, local events, and youth empowerment activities, for social, economic, and cultural activities.
For example, the venue will be used for Youth Day, Women’s Day, Independence Day, Youth Day, Labor Day; for commercials such as local agriculture show, and Black Friday as well as to enable and allow our local artists perform functions as a way of empowering them, helping them fundraise because there is no direct government incentives for artists. The project will promote social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of Mazabuka Central.
For instance, the project will be a source of revenue to the local authority, the council, and other local businesses; job creation for local people.
It will enhance our local economy, it will promote public order, public safety, and security.
It will also prevent the public from loitering and wandering especially during those events and activities.
3). Relocation of the National Assembly Office. Since our National Assembly office in Mazabuka Central does not serve its intended purpose of bringing parliament closer to the people, we shall relocate it.
It is also not inclusive.
The office is inaccessible especially for persons living with disabilities. For instance, all those on a wheelchair are denied access.
They have no access to the National Assembly office. The question is how many people in this constituency know about this office; how many people in this constituency visit that office every day, every week, every month, and every year? If you check in the log book; I mean Mazabuka Central National Assembly office log book is almost always empty.
The question is what does it mean to the public? What it does mean is that our voices, our questioning the local authority, the council, our concerns on issues affecting Mazabuka Central and the nation at large, for example issues of governance, leadership, and development are not heard; those voices and concerns just end on radio, they end on social media; they do not reach parliament.
Another reason we should relocate the National Assembly office in Mazabuka Central is that the office is not safe where it is located today in the sense that this office shares the same corridor with another political party office.
A new, inclusive, and more accessible National Assembly office shall be established to ensure better engagement with the public; better engagement between the MP and members of the public.
The National Assembly office is the office of the MP, an important public office that should bring parliament closer to the people.
In other words, the National Assembly office is the link between people and parliament itself.
4). Improve infrastructure and sanitation. Since we depend so much on agriculture, trade, and investment-business, we shall address the hazardous “Dam Tuvi” sewage area.
We shall bury the “Dam Tuvi”. Dam Tuvi is that area or place surrounded by Stage Two, Mulonga Extension, Mukokomba, and Overspill.
It shall be addressed by constructing a modern market and a drainage system; before the council thinks of giving plots there as they have already started; because the council has a tendency of giving plots anywhere and anyhow.
The market will benefit nearby townships including Stage Two, Mulonga Extension, Mukokomba, Overspill, and Nkabika.
The market will reduce street vending. The project will improve our local economy; it will promote trade and agriculture.
The project will create business and job opportunities for our local people especially youths.
The project will also promote public health especially during rainy seasons like now; it will promote public safety and security because currently Dam Tuvi is used as a hideout by junkies especially during rainy season.
5). Fight for Zambia Sugar Employees’ Rights. We will push for transport allowances for seasonals and permanent workers.
We will hold labour unions accountable for fair wages and better working conditions.
Local employment opportunities will be prioritized for Mazabuka residents especially the youths.
Zambia Sugar employees whether seasonal or permanent, if there will be no vehicles to pick you and drop you in designated places, we shall resolve to fight decisively for your transport allowances; you shall have transport allowance; you will never complain about underpayments especially the seasonals. Your unions are not doing enough; they have no muscles; they are bulldogs without teeth.
The first thing we are going to do is that we are going to engage labour office, labour unions, and other relevant offices, and stakeholders in highlighting our position as well as to cement on what His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema stated when he last visited Mazabuka on 22nd October 2024, at Katombolwa ground pertaining to local employment opportunities for local people.
The head of state was very clear and categorical on Zambia Sugar; I also want to be very clear and categorical on local investors and local contractors.
What our local investors and local contractors should know about Mazabuka is that Mazabuka is blessed; Mazabuka is well equipped; the good people of Mazabuka Central are hardworking people; and in Mazabuka you will find all kinds of people who can do any kind of job, therefore, stop bringing people out there for employment here, you are disadvantaging local youths.
If you vote for me as your next MP, I will move a motion in parliament, a motion that will prioritize local people for local employment opportunities.
Am now speaking direct to the local authority (council, Zambia Sugar Company, other local investors, and local contractors), local people are the ones to benefit and compete for local jobs, not outsiders.
Stop exploiting and disadvantaging local people in the name of connections and corruption.
Unfortunately, if you don’t vote for me as your next MP, the following happens; Corruption in Mazabuka Central will persist.
Political division which is like cancer between the office of the MP and the office of the Mayor will continue.
Poor roads, poor markets, poor healthcare services and facilities, poor drainage system, poor water and sanitation systems will continue.
The council will continue giving endless excuses on development despite CDF increment. Confusion in CDF will continue.
The National Assembly office in Mazabuka Central will remain dysfunctional to the public.
If you do not change, you are not changing anything for better, you are making everything bad worse.
You are putting Mazabuka Central at a risk of its potential; you are putting everything at a risk including yourselves, your families, your children and their future; you are putting yourselves at a risk of unemployment because the council is not investing in fundamental capital projects that can attract investors; because the process of attracting investors is the process of creating jobs for local people, youths; you are putting yourselves as an individual, as a club, as a cooperative at a risk of not being picked whenever you apply for CDF loans, grants, or empowerment because of corruption.
You are putting yourselves as a ward at a risk of your community projects not being approved.
You are putting yourselves at a risk of not acquiring affordable plots through the council.
In conclusion, spread the message for change in Mazabuka Central.
Ensure that you vote for dedicated leaders. Choose individuals – starting from WDCs to councillors and the mayor – who will genuinely serve the people. We need to revive the leadership spirit of Hon. Benn Mwiinga; the spirit of development, the spirit of which shall not perish, of which I have inherited already – I have the heart for the people.
I shall commit to full-time leadership, we shall revamp the Mazabuka showground, we shall relocate the National Assembly office, we shall improve infrastructure and sanitation, and we shall fight for Zambia Sugar employees’ rights. Mazabuka Central will be a place of opportunities for everyone, not for the privileged few but for everyone. A place that deserves respect, unity, safety, security, and dignity. A place of inclusivity. I have taken advantage of my youth, I am offering myself to your service, while my vision is still clear; and while I am still energetic. All these problems we face in Mazabuka Central today are consequences of poor leadership, political division, corruption, and lack of strategic planning. Let me end by saying, if you don’t change the MP in Mazabuka Central, nothing changes. If you change, everything changes.
Big Machines
Waboonse
Mazabuka Central Independent MP, 2026.