A Return to Peaceful Elections
Today, citizens can attend rallies, either UPND or opposition, without fear of being gunned down
By Fabian Mutale
Today panga (machete) politics seems like a distant memory; an aberration in our otherwise peaceful democratic history.
On August 13 we must protect this inheritance by voting for a return to peace and rejecting a return to cadreism.
Ten years ago in Shiwang'andu, Muchinga Province, the current Vice-President Mutale Nalumango and the late former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa were among those violently attacked by cadres as their helicopter came under heavy fire from stones and assorted weaponry.
A mob, reportedly led by then PF minister and Member of Parliament Stephen Kampyongo, was determined to stop the UPND candidates and their colleagues from campaigning in the area at all costs.
I was shocked but not surprised. In the preceding months, the prevalence of violence in the political sphere had been on the rise, with concerted efforts to block the opposition and intimidate supporters.
While the incident in Shiwang'andu was by no means an outlier at the time, the dramatic footage captured of the incident circulated across social media platforms and it quickly became emblematic of the deterioration in the political environment in Zambia, also encapsulated by the phrase 'panga politics'.
Fast forward to July 2026 and the situation is transformed. Today, citizens can attend rallies, either UPND or opposition, without fear of being gunned down.
They can walk the streets in their party regalia. Today we do not see politicians wielding machetes or guns.
The markets, streets and buses are liberated from cadres and, with peace restored, people can go about their business regardless of political affiliation.
It was therefore heart-warming to see how President Hakainde Hichilema was warmly welcomed in Shiwang'andu this week, where he spoke directly to the events of the past, including that incident which could so easily have become a national tragedy.
He spoke of the restoration of peace and freedom of association across the country and underscored the importance of unity and togetherness as the means by which we can all progress and deliver on our shared ambitions for the country.
The opposition are also campaigning here, as they are across the country.
As we approach election day, various candidates are putting their proposals to the people, setting out their policies and vision for the next five years, making their case for what they have to offer the Zambian people.
Everyone is free to deliver their message directly to voters, thereby helping them to make an informed decision.
To me, Shiwang'andu represents the moment at which Zambia was at a clear tipping point. Looking back, it seems like a bad dream that weighs heavily on my mind.
We must not return there. Zambia is a young nation and for many voters heading to the polls on August 13, such incidents and the prevailing climate of fear that accompanied them may not seem real or urgent.
It is important that we remember exactly what it was like back then; how machetes were used to intimidate citizens. How shots were fired at opposition supporters who had simply turned out for a rally. How politicians threatened judges and party leaders spoke of crushing their rivals.
The choice we all face on August 13 is an important one. Peace is fundamental to every hope we have for our future and that of our children and their children.
After all, without peace we cannot lower the cost of living. Without peace we cannot create more jobs. Without peace we cannot keep children in school. On August 13 we must protect and prioritise peace.
The author is a democracy and governance advocate.
This article was originally published in the Zambia Daily Mail.