Ruling UPND Presidental candidate Hakainde Hichilema casts his vote at Kabulonga Boys school
Watch on YouTubeVideo summary
The video captures the historic moment of Hakainde Hichilema casting his vote as the presidential candidate for the United Party for National Development (UPND) at Kabulonga Boys School in Zambia. Surrounded by supporters and media personnel, Mr. Hichilema expresses a deep sense of excitement and solemnity regarding this critical democratic exercise. He emphasizes that while he is an ordinary citizen serving his people, this election represents a pivotal choice between regression and progress for the nation. The atmosphere at the polling station reflects both the tension of high stakes and the collective hope for stability, with Hichilema urging citizens to prioritize their country's future over personal political affiliations or ethnic divisions.
In his message delivered during the process, Mr. Hichilema highlights the government's achievements in restoring peace after a period described as "bloody" violence in previous elections and securing economic stability by protecting foreign reserves. He argues that these measures have created an environment conducive to attracting investments and fostering development, contrasting this with the risks of returning to conflict or mismanagement which could deplete national resources like currency reserves. Furthermore, he points to significant social successes, such as bringing 2.6 million children back into school from out-of-school populations, framing free education not just as a policy but as a moral obligation to secure a better future for current and unborn generations of Zambians.
A major theme in his address is the urgent need for national unity, particularly concerning relations with South Africa where he notes that some citizens feel marginalized or harassed despite shared history and struggles against apartheid. He passionately calls on fellow Africans living abroad and within Zambia to reject xenophobic sentiments and instead focus on collaborative efforts to fight poverty through joint investments and skills development projects. Hichilema asserts that personal interests must always be subordinated to the national interest, urging all Zambians regardless of their background or political views to come together to build a prosperous economy rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric that threatens social cohesion.
Ultimately, the video concludes with Mr. Hichilema reinforcing his core philosophy that leadership is about delivering tangible results and creating wealth for the people through hard work and unity. He dismisses superficial differences such as physical appearance or accent, stating that what truly matters to voters are choices that lead to improved lives and security. As he completes his voting procedure with a smile and gratitude towards those around him, the overarching message remains clear: this election is not about winning arguments but about making a decisive choice for peace, stability, and continued progress for Zambia moving forward without looking back into past crises or divisions.
Read the full video transcript
Yes. All right.
with the president.
So, how do we
move?
Are you
okay?
No,
>> he's voting. Don't just capture us on
voting.
What name did you say?
Is your mother
number
8:15.
Row number four,
column four.
B 15
number five.
That is
No,
but
I'm
excited.
There we go. The Republican president
casting his vote and obviously one
of those
pride
showing a leading democracy in
Let's move a bit back, guys.
Let's move back. Let's move back. Let's
move back. Let's move back. Let's move
back. There's enough. Obviously
there's memories that can go down.
Nothing.
23.
>> Number one.
Row number 17. Or
Okay.
There we go. The Republican president
casting his vote and he's made mention.
I have just voted those
sentiments and there we go. He's uh put
it in.
>> There he is. Just trying to make sure
that his bottle paper is well pushed in.
He's all zero in national.
Republican president
right there. He's made sure that
the president
council chair as well as councelor
Thomas.
>> Oh, you got to
Thank you.
>> Number three
number two, row seven.
Yeah, love it.
>> Thank you.
Here's
another h.
>> How are you feeling? Mr.
>> Very good. Very good. Positive.
>> Family photo over here.
Okay. 1 2 3. Look over here for me,
please. Thank you. One, two, three. One,
two, three. Lovely. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much.
So people
wait.
Okay.
>> Sorry. Sorry.
When she comes,
should we wait here or we go there?
>> If she's gone, she come
outside.
Is she finished? First date is finished.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Open up, please.
>> Open up, please. Open up. Nice. Just
move.
Move back. Move back.
So we'll go back.
>> No, we are being driven this way.
How are you?
What is
Come this side.
support then support social support
even under challenges such as challenges
such as 10 and I hope my fellow citizens
receive that in opposition now we have
been fighting to leave but there's a lot
more to be done a lot more to be done
because the country requested for many
now after doing the heavy lifting such
as
what restoring the medicine now we want
the step check
so that we can take care of
Mr.
Well, first this election is a
reflection of a peace and a vision of
peace security that this government has.
If you understand this country in the
last three elections in 2021, it was
bloody. It was really scary. But we
brought calmness. That calmness is a
direct environment for borderline more
importantly for attracting investments
so that we economy to create a world.
That's the message. That's what this
election is all about. It's a
distinction between retrogression,
violence and peace, security, stability,
full development. That's what it is to
the voters. They have to make a choice
between progress with us to build on the
gains that we made to protect those. You
have heard people shouting we are voting
people take the reserves. Those outside
want to come and eat our reserves which
are extremely important to stabilizing
the currency.
I'm sure you're aware that the quatcher
is one of the best performing currencies
in the world not just in Africa in the
world. Have you ever seen an election
where you're getting into the water like
there the local currencies are
deficient? The ordinary situation is
that as we get to an election, there's
no concurrence deficiency because of
risk perceptions. It means that the
global investing community, African
region, Zambians are confident that this
environment is a great and they want to
continue and that's what we have seen to
continue progress not to move back.
to go through their education.
>> We encouraging people to turn up. If you
want to sustain the gains in free
education, for example, free education
is at risk of being removed. Millows,
you know what I'm talking students lost
their mills. They must turn up. It's not
just the fact that we have a child to
use this food. You have a grandchild,
you have a niece, you have a cousin, but
even for the unborn children, our job is
to protect, to secure a future for them.
So, I encourage everybody for a moment
leave what you're doing. Fellow citizen
doesn't take too long. Please go out and
vote and register a critical decision to
allow your country to progress. We have
seen retrigation in this country. We
move one step forward, four steps
backwards. Where we not in a dead
crisis, not long 2006, the president
took us out of there returned with
vengeance by 2015, 2016. We don't want
that kind of stuff. Four steps forward,
four more steps forward, no backward.
That's what this is about. So please
stand up comed
ordinary citing day like this I'm cit
on any other day I'm ordinary I'm just a
servant of people they chose to put me
in public office to serve best interest
is what we have I have told my cabin
ministers MPs everybody national
interest occupy the best. Our personal
interests are subentient to national
interest and when we do that everyone
else's interest that's important to me.
>> Your views say
that's unfortunate.
I believe
when we
were here,
this country, this is like South Africa
and many other people. But we say these
are our brothers and sisters and we
fought with you. We fought with South
Africans. We put our lives on the
chopping board. Some of our military
people died. Civilians died together in
South Africa. Why should we separate
ourselves now? Now that you have
a good work as South Africans, we must
be back and back. What's happening here?
and leadership my colleagues I'm I'm
sure they take the steps to correct that
mist now that serious
if we did not have come against South
Africans how would you how would you
succeeded in fighting you wouldn't have
succeeded I think that's a South African
even South Africans like you are here
nobody's harassing and remember a lot of
the freedom party to a white children
here. So what are you calling those
people when they come to we're one
genetic material one we need unity we
need to fight poverty by investing
together by doing sic projects together
and then we can grow our economies and
provide opportunities for example skills
development in Salam in this together
and investing in businesses that we've
brought
our original population. Most of which
is young and proper. I'm strong about
this issue is not correct. What's
happening in South Africa is not
correct. And I I I can look at you in
the eyes and look at the camera. That
has to stop now. Now there are issues of
letter jobs. There's a way of handling
it. You don't have to kill
services. I'm confident. We have open no
visas here in no visas. This is your
country. You an investment to make it.
I'll be the case on this. Thank you.
>> Your excellency
in an [clears throat] event that you
make these things will change the con.
Our priorities now been known by the
believer. We promise free education in
opposition. We have delivered. We
promise that the restructuring will
deliver. We promise restoration of the
rural we have delivered. We promise law
and order in the market in the basket.
That's why you don't see noise around.
That's why you don't see blood in the
basket. That's our agenda to make the
lives of people. We also to take care of
the I have a principle in philosophical
orientation. We have to work hard. We
cannot share. We have to create wealth.
Then we can be dispute. You see my book
is done after elections. We cannot shr
>> there's no need to sh each other guys.
This is the environment security. These
guys are harmless. These are journalists
that do the job.
>> One question. How is it important for
Zambians to remain
>> regardless of results out?
>> Well, elections
are a process of competition to say,
>> isn't it?
>> Yes.
>> And I believe Zambians understand what
they want their government to do and
government that delivers for them.
The government that takes out of school
children who were out of school back to
school 2.5 2.6 million madam are you
aware we have taken children back to
school 2.6 million children who were out
of school in the previous we've now
taken them back to school. Imagine what
these kids would have become 5 10 years.
Difficult to imagine isn't it? Which
parent wants their child to be in that
situation? None. That's what this is all
about this election. It's not about you
like somebody or you dislike someone.
It's about police choices that the lead
improved life for citizen. It's not
about who is taller, who's shorter, who
speaks better English, whose ears are
bigger like mine. It does not matter.
Thank you.
Hello everyone.
Fair enough.
Just take over here.
After
that move him here.
You know what?
>> Protecting the reserves.
>> Protecting
>> and that's the
This is
supposed to be
when I employ they accuse me that I was
employing in a basis. It's because she
was to my wife. I don't know why they
thought that.
>> No. And also so
take one.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. Okay. Look here guys.
>> Perfect.
>> Thank you.
He's up here.
Thank you.
>> I'm telling you all our children are in
school. We are not paying. They are
having if you go to schools me me
personally I'm a teacher I've seen how
these children are very attentive they
concentrating in school they are eating
just last week we received the packages
for them our parents he's loving our
parents we are grateful we loving
elementary.
all the way.
>> Guys, can you open up the way here?
Just give you a wine.
Thank you.
>> Oh yeah.
Welcome to the people.
They're coming.
India, guys.
1.
Hallelujah.
Yes, please. Don't tell me.
Thank you.
If you want to go somewhere.
our voters.
She's one of our
good
team
this one.
>> We've been going around this one.
>> Thank you.
Do it. Do it.
How are you?
>> Take your time. Relax. Where is your
friend? Check yourself.
Thank you so much.
Hallelujah.
Yes.
>> Hey,
Stay on.