The joke that is UPND’s never-ending campaign rhetoric
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
IT IS beyond laughable – it is an insult to the intelligence of Zambians -that after four years in power, the United Party for National Development (UPND) is still campaigning as if they are in opposition. Their tired talking points remain the same: “We increased the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), we employed teachers, nurses and doctors, we introduced free education, and we are better than the Patriotic Front (PF).”
This broken record has played for four years, as if Zambians are stuck in 2021. Meanwhile, the real issues affecting the people – hunger, joblessness and economic collapse – are conveniently ignored. The UPND government behaves as though it expects praise for doing the bare minimum while the country burns under their incompetence.
Where is the leadership? Where is the promised economic turnaround? Where is the relief for the ordinary citizen? Instead of delivering, they are busy giving excuses and blaming the previous government for their own failures. But here’s the truth: the blame game won’t put food on anyone’s table.
The brutal reality under UPND
Life in Zambia has never been harder. The cost of living has spiraled out of control, and the government seems either oblivious or indifferent.
Fuel prices have more than doubled since UPND took over, sending transport costs through the roof. When fuel goes up, everything follows—transport, food, and basic commodities.
Mealie meal, the staple food, has become a luxury for many families, with prices hitting record highs. People are surviving on one meal a day while the government continues to boast about “economic growth.” Growth for who? Certainly not the ordinary Zambian.
Electricity has become a rare privilege. Load-shedding is now worse than ever, with businesses forced to shut down because they cannot operate in darkness.
Unemployment is soaring. Small businesses, which should be the backbone of the economy, are collapsing under high costs and power shortages. Companies are downsizing, leaving thousands jobless while the government boasts about employing a handful of civil servants.
Yet, despite this suffering, UPND has the audacity to ask for another term in 2026. On what basis? That they increased CDF four years ago? That they recruited some workers in their first year? That they are “better than PF”? These are no longer campaign messages—they are desperate excuses for failure.
Enough lies, enough excuses
Zambians did not vote UPND into power to keep hearing about how “bad PF was.” That is old news. The people voted for solutions, not endless excuses. And yet, here we are, with life worse than it was before 2021.
The arrogance of this government is shocking. Ministers and officials live lavishly while ordinary citizens struggle to afford the basics. The so-called “free education” they boast about is a joke when parents can’t even afford uniforms, books, or transport for their children.
And let’s talk about corruption. UPND promised to clean up government and restore accountability, but what do we see? Deals shrouded in secrecy, selective justice, and questionable contracts. Corruption is still alive and thriving—only the players have changed.
Does UPND think Zambians are fools? Do they believe empty speeches will make people forget the pain of high prices, blackouts, and job losses? Do they think that repeating “we increased CDF” will put food on the table or money in people’s pockets?
The people are watching
Zambians are not blind. They see through the lies. They feel the pain every single day. And they are waiting.
2026 is coming. Kuyabebele! Enough is enough!
