HAKAINDE HICHILEMA LIED HIS WAY TO THE PRESIDENCY, NOW WANTS TO WIN RE- ELECTION THROUGH INTIMIDATION By David Sichone Hakainde Hichilema's chances of winning the 2026 Presidential elections have grown increasingly slim. Therefore, the confidence of some of his followers, such as Choma Central Constituency Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa, is missplaced. Hichilema's government has not delivered on its promises, and citizens have a clear measure with which to assess Hichilema and his team, which will definitely impact chances of their re-election. Additionally, if united, the opposition is likely to put up a strong fight, which is another major factor working against Hichilema. Hichilema cannot lie or make any more promises. Now he is President and the buck stops with him. He cannot even continue blaming his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, for what is not going right in Zambia today, not even climate change, since he said this was a scapegoat for poor leadership. But Hichilema is now President and the fuel prices that he promised he will reduce to K12 per litre are now at an all time high. The mealie meal that he promised to reduce to K50 is now trading between K250 and K300. Everything he promised to reduce has either doubled or tripled. These failures have left Hichilema with only one option - intimidating the opposition and the citizens to desist from criticising or questioning him. He has done this in two parts. The first one is arresting all those who speak about his failures, using police to charge them with seditious practices, or hate speech, if they point out practi especially of tribalism and selective prosecution. The second part is arresting the opposition leaders preoccupy them with court cases, while also denying them chance to hold rallies and other public meetings. Hichilema's final card, as Zambia gets close to the next elections, is to convict some of them so that they are disqualified from standing, having already eliminated main rival Edgar. Lungu Ultimately, the outcome of the 2026 elections will depend on the performance of Hichilema's government, the strength of the opposition, the Edgar Lungu kingmaker factor. But there is another factor, over which Hichilema will also answer for in future. The embedding of United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in the Electoral Commissiin of Zambia (ECZ). That is why the opposition needs to find ways to dismantle the partisan character of the current ECZ before the 2026 polls. Correcting the compositiin of the the judiciary, especially the "per encurium" Constitutional Court will take longer. The truth is Hichilema knows he cannot win the 2026 elections free and fair, which is why he has deployed the police and compromised virtually all institutions of governance. All pretence by Hichilema, that he was not involved in the wrangles in PF, can longer be sustained because his sponsorship of the troubles, through surrogates, and involvement of state organs is now an open secret. The PF is still grappling with finding a solution to avoid further disintegration and be fit to fight the 2026 elections. As for the opposition in general, this is a dangerous time to focus on personal or narrow group interests. There is a country to rescue. John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ©️ Zambian Whistleblower (ZWB).