Wave of Stone-Flinging Unrest Rattles Zambia’s “Problem-Solver” President

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has re-emerged with a combative stance after an arduous month in which he came under physical attack from stone-hurling individuals while attempting to deliver a public address.
Footage showing him ducking for cover before being swiftly escorted from a gathering in the Copperbelt region unsettled many citizens, prompting widespread condemnation across political lines.

Yet, with only nine months remaining before national polls and his bid for a second mandate, mounting pressure continues to shadow his administration.
Addressing his first press briefing in a year and a half on Tuesday, Hichilema vigorously defended his stewardship and outlined his accomplishments, particularly in economic management and energy reform.

“This degree of hostility is staggering; you can practically feel the poison in it,” he remarked, urging Zambians to embrace unity and compassion.
However, his appeal may struggle to resonate with those still grappling with daily hardships.

According to Simon Mwila, an opposition aspirant for mayor of Lusaka, the president has become increasingly detached from “the genuine heartbeat of the people,” which he believes explains why citizens are casting stones “instead of flowers.”

Sishuwa Sishuwa, a Zambian historian and senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, asserts that the president has abandoned the values he previously championed.
“During his tenure, Hichilema has evolved into nearly everything he criticised in his predecessor, Edgar Lungu—at times even surpassing him,” he told the BBC.

Hichilema firmly rejected these accusations, highlighting his efforts to resolve the inherited debt dilemma and restore fiscal stability.

On 8 November, he had anticipated a warmer welcome in Chingola, particularly as he arrived bearing $450,000 (£340,000) to support the reconstruction of a local market ravaged by fire.
Instead, a furious crowd interrupted his speech, compelling him to leave the scene.
Police attributed the unrest to “disorderly members of the public” who were allegedly involved in looting nearby businesses, and at least 27 individuals have since been detained over acts of violence and arson.

During this week’s press engagement, the president blamed illegal small-scale miners for orchestrating the disturbances as his government intensified efforts to curtail their unlicensed activities.
“We will never permit such lawlessness to resurface,” he declared.

Source: Araba Sey