President Hakainde Hichilema has described social media as a growing menace that must be addressed more decisively, warning that it is being used to spread falsehoods that are tearing people apart. Speaking during the Nc’wala Traditional Ceremony on Saturday, President Hichilema stressed that such divisions undermined national unity and development.
“Social media is a menace, it will be addressed in a stronger way because we are destroying each other based on falsehoods. That’s not how we build countries,” the President said. He was responding to remarks delivered by Nc’wala National Organising Committee Chairperson Dumisani Tembo, who spoke on behalf of Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV of the Ngoni people.
President Hichilema assured attendees that the government was already responding to several issues raised by traditional leaders, including infrastructure development. He reaffirmed commitment to the Nakala Corridor project and revealed that the Chadiza-Chipata road had been renamed “Bally’s Road,” with a contractor already assigned.
The Head of State also emphasized the importance of culture as the foundation of national identity. “Culture is extremely important. A people without culture are a people without character,” he said. He lamented that some youths view culture as inferior, especially after studying abroad, and urged citizens to embrace their heritage proudly. “The more educated we become, the more we should value and preserve our culture,” he added.
Citing global examples, President Hichilema noted that some of the world’s most prosperous economies such as China, Japan, and the United Kingdom are grounded in strong cultural traditions. “As your chief servant, I am a traditionalist, a culturalist, and I am very proud of that,” he declared. “Culture unites us. Unity, peace, security, and stability are vital for development.”
On the subject of education, President Hichilema called on traditional leaders and families to ensure that all children, including orphans, attend school. He reiterated that free education is now available and cautioned against keeping children at home. “It is a crime to keep small children out of school. We will start jailing those who do so because the government has released funds to support free education,” he warned.
Reflecting on recent hardships, the President recalled the triple crises of COVID-19, cholera, and drought, which he said the government and its partners had navigated without allowing citizens to go hungry. “We promised that nobody would die of hunger and nobody has. That is our commitment,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV, Mr. Dumisani Tembo thanked the President for his generous support towards the Nc’wala ceremony. “We sincerely thank Your Excellency for your personal contribution of K400,000, 100 bags of mealie meal, and five heads of cattle. We acknowledge receipt of this support with deep appreciation,” Tembo said.