President Hichilema calls on public officials to prioritise citizens as the election year approaches

President Hakainde Hichilema has urged public officials to place the needs of citizens above personal interests, describing service to the people as the foundation of politics and a prerequisite for improving living standards across Zambia.

Speaking in remarks relayed by State House Chief Communication Specialist Clayson Hamasaka, the President encouraged Zambians to work together on national development and said he would continue engaging citizens from all backgrounds to shape a shared vision for inclusive growth.

Mr Hichilema pointed to a series of outcomes his administration attributes to the past four and a half years in office, including the reopening of Mulungushi Textiles, the return of more than 2.5 million children to school under the free education policy, and the deployment of 41,917 newly recruited teachers.

Central to his message was the expansion of the Constituency Development Fund, which has risen from K1.6 million per constituency in 2021 to K40 million in the 2026 national budget. The allocation has climbed steadily over five years and now totals around K6.2 billion across Zambia's constituencies, the highest per-constituency figure in the fund's history.

The President said the expanded CDF had underpinned the construction of more than 2,800 classroom blocks, 164 health facilities, 860 kilometres of feeder roads and 1,792 boreholes. He also cited the recruitment of over 18,000 health workers and the completion of 279 health facilities.

The remarks come ahead of general elections on 13 August 2026, the first to be held under a revised electoral framework following constitutional amendments passed in 2025. Mr Hichilema was confirmed earlier this month as the UPND's sole presidential candidate after filing unopposed. The main opposition grouping, the Tonse Alliance, selected Member of Parliament Brian Mundubile as its candidate in January.

Analysts have said the vote will test public sentiment on the government's economic record, including the conclusion of Zambia's 38-month IMF programme in January and the effects of last year's drought on food prices.

Mr Hichilema said voters would decide in August whether to continue on the current development path or reverse the progress made.