Hichilema, UPND losing Barotseland – Aka
By Thandizo Banda
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is at the verge of losing his once perceived stronghold of Barotseland ahead of the August 13 elections because of dwindling popularity and his insistence that Barotseland does not exist, senior citizen Dr Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika has said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Mast, Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said the people of Barotseland wanted Hichilema to fall on August 13.
“We wonder how HH should expect votes from ghosts since he has declared Barotseland non-existent. I’m campaigning all-out to ensure Hichilema and the UPND [United Party for National Development] are replaced with a party that is committed to serving the citizenry’s interest,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
He said the people of Barotseland were longing to vote for a radical president committed to constitutional reconstruction and economic emancipation through fairly shared development.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said Zambians needed a presidency that would preside over a country where there was social equity with no particular group dominance.
“We need a scenario where there’s social change, where there’s no group discrimination and negative ethnicity,” he said.
Hichilema and the UPND had let down Zambians.
They should therefore not expect a favourable outcome at the ballot in Western Province.
“He [HIchilema] has failed to develop the Barotseland in his five-year mandate. There’s literary nothing to point at and credit it to HH and UPND,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
He encouraged Zambians to rally behind the opposition in next month’s elections.
“Zambians should rise up and navigate the prevailing hostile political environment and vote en masse against the UPND,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
He urged Zambians to be brave and frank and rise against any form of intimidation before, during and after the general elections.
Images of large crowds chanting for change in Solwezi as National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu toured North-western Province showed that a former UPND stronghold was becoming competitive.
“In 2021, President Hichilema won 87.58 per cent of the vote in North-western Province, with Solwezi Central giving him 84.84 per cent. The reception suggests the political walls around the Zambezi region are beginning to weaken,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
He said the President was sensing an unexpected shift across Southern, Western and North-western provinces due to voter frustration over cost of living, jobs and service delivery, and is now being forced to work harder in areas once considered safe.
“He now has to work harder to coerce voters in regions that were once considered safe,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.
