Chingola Attack Wakes Up Zambia

Unrest in the Mining Heartland Signals Trouble for Hichilema

Relative peace in Zambian politics broke earlier this month. Hichilema, the head of state, faced a hostile mob. The incident happened while he toured the Copperbelt region. He visited Chingola on November 8. His goal involved inspecting the Chiwempala Market ruins. Fire had destroyed the site recently. He wanted to help traders with money and support. But the mood turned ugly fast. People started throwing rocks at him. Security agents rushed to protect the leader. They forced him down and moved him to safety. This attack shows growing anger in an area that used to support him.

Rioters Target State Assets

Chaos did not stop when the convoy left. Rioters turned on the police. They attacked government assets with fury. A mob found a police vehicle. They smashed the glass and flipped the Toyota Land Cruiser. Then they burned it. This showed their hate for state authority. Superintendent Lloyd Kanondo fired his gun into the air. He tried to scare the crowd away. Ten shots rang out. But the rioters ignored him. They also burned a tent meant for the president. Police eventually took control. The burnt car remained as a sign of the violence.

Swift Police Response

Officers acted fast to catch the suspects. The Zambia Police Service arrested twenty-seven people. Charges included setting fires and physical assault. Police spokespeople gave a reason for the chaos. They blamed disorderly individuals in the crowd. Authorities claimed these people just wanted to loot shops. Officials said this was crime, not politics. Jack Mwiimbu serves as Home Affairs Minister. He called the attack a threat to the life of Hichilema. He promised harsh punishment. The state says criminals planned this. Others think it shows real anger. The arrests show the state wants to stop dissent quickly.

Shifting Loyalty in the North

The violence marks a change in the Copperbelt area. This region holds much mineral wealth. Voters here helped Hichilema win big in the 2021 vote. They liked his plan to fix finances and the mines. But feelings have changed during the past four years. Locals complain about the absence of real benefits. The administration's policies have not helped them yet. The welcome at Chingola differed greatly from past campaign tours. Analysts see the stones as a sign of lost faith. Miners feel the leader they elected has left them behind. Hichilema must work hard to win them back.

The President Speaks Out

Hichilema met the press on Tuesday. He spoke at the official residence after a long silence. He wanted to protect his reputation. The leader claimed the hate he saw in Chingola shocked him. He said the malice felt real and touchable. He asked citizens to choose unity over fighting. The briefing focused on economic stability. He listed his wins. Restructuring the national debt stands out. He believes this saved the country from ruin. The President claims the base for growth exists now. He said tough reforms fixed past mistakes. He tried to sound confident to calm investors.

Statistics Versus Reality

The government uses data to prove progress. S&P Global raised the sovereign rating for Zambia. It now sits at 'CCC+' after the debt deal. This improves upon the default status from when Hichilema started. Inflation dropped significantly. It fell from near 25% to under 12%. The Kwacha also gained value. These signs show his money plans work. Foreign cash flows into the nation again. Global partners promised billions in aid. The country seems to be healing. Yet these big numbers do not put cash in pockets. A gap exists between stability and family safety. This gap endangers the government.

High Prices Crush Families

Survival remains hard for most residents. Economic charts do not feed people. The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection published new data. Their October 2025 report measures family stress. A basic basket of goods costs too much. A family of five in Lusaka needs about K10,800. Most homes earn far less. Food prices dropped slightly but remain high. Families struggle to buy what they need. Many people skip meals. Others eat less healthy food. Expensive charcoal hurts budgets further. These facts fight against the happy official story. Critics say credit ratings do not stop hunger.

Darkness Stalls the Economy

Power shortages make life worse. The economy suffers from an energy deficit. A drought drained the Kariba Dam. This dam usually provides most power. Water levels sit at record lows. Zesco cuts power often. The utility stops electricity for twenty hours daily. This hurts small shops and homes. Hichilema admits the suffering. He spoke about the agony citizens feel during the media briefing. He said the climate emergency killed generation capacity. The state plans to build solar plants and thermal stations. They want to mix up the grid. But these plans take time. Citizens suffer in the dark right now.

Conflict Over Mineral Wealth

Fighting over minerals adds tension in the Copperbelt. Hichilema blamed the riots on unlicensed diggers. He accused miners working without permits of starting the fight. Locals call these unregistered workers "jerabos." They hold power in the area. The state wants to formalize the industry. They try to suppress unauthorized digging. The goal involves attracting big foreign firms. Hichilema said he rejects thuggery. He believes rules create safety and revenue. But stopping the digging hurts young men. They lose their income. These angry youths see the state as a threat. Their rage sparked the Chingola riots.

A Tarnished Slogan

Current anger contrasts with the hope of 2021. Hichilema won using a famous phrase. He claimed "Bally" would repair the nation. "Bally" is slang for father. Young people loved the name. They saw him as a rescuer. He presented his image as a capable expert. He promised to solve all national problems. Voters believed he could reverse bad management. Four years passed. The slogan lost its shine. Critics mock the phrase now. They point to problems that stay the same. Rivals say "Bally" failed to help common people. The gap between promises and reality feels like betrayal.

Image  Credit - by TheophilusMaurice, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fears of Repression

Hichilema acted as a democrat during his time outside power. He spent fifteen years fighting for rights. He criticized the man who came before him. Edgar Lungu used force against critics. Now scholars say Hichilema does the same. Sishuwa Sishuwa claims the leader rejected his old values. He points to banned rallies. Police arrest opponents on weak charges. Crimes include "hate speech." Hichilema denies these claims. He maintains that his administration follows the law. But police still arrest people who insult the leader. This looks like the old regime's behavior.

Digital Rights Under Fire

The Cybersecurity Law scares rights groups. The state says the law stops internet scams. They claim it protects children too. Officials say digital safety needs strong rules. But critics hate the legislation. They see it as a tool for spying. They fear the state reads private chats. Opponents say the government tracks them. Hichilema disliked similar laws before he won. His use of these rules angers smart voters. Liberals supported him before. Now they feel tricked. This adds to the drop in his support.

Constitutional Battlelines

A fight started over the constitution. The government wants to redraw voting maps. They plan to add more seats to parliament. Hichilema says the law requires this every ten years. He claims it ensures fair sharing of resources. He says current lines are unequal. The opposition suspects foul play. They think the ruling party wants to cheat. Rivals remember Hichilema blocked this in the past. When he was outside government, he stopped it. He said it was too close to voting day. Now he pushes for it. This creates deep mistrust.

Rivals Seize the Moment

Rivals use the anger to attack the President. Simon Mwila runs for mayor of Lusaka. He says the leader ignores reality. Mwila explained the Chingola attack. He said people throw rocks instead of blossoms when ignored. He claims the state wants foreign applause more than local safety. The opposition points to the disconnect. They highlight suffering on the ground. They speak for the hungry and jobless. The Patriotic Front finds new energy. They lost in 2021. Now they attack government failures. They call Hichilema a friend of western banks, not Zambians.

The Waiting Game

Hichilema asks the country to wait. He says big projects take time. The leader compares the economy to a giant ship. Turning it requires patience. He wants citizens to suffer now for later rewards. Supporters say debt deals will help eventually. Trevor Hambayi analyzes the economy. He calls the financial fix a major victory. But poor people cannot eat patience. They need food and lights today. The gap between long-term plans and daily hunger creates danger. It makes the country volatile.

Countdown to the Ballot

Time runs out before the vote in August 2026. Hichilema faces a hard fight to stay in office. The rock attack serves as a warning. Re-election is not certain. He must connect his money wins to daily life. The state plans to spend more on social needs. They want to build roads fast. They hope rain fills the dams. This would solve the crisis regarding power. But rivals will use every mistake against him. The next months matter. "Bally" must fix his bond with voters. If not, the stones in Chingola signal the end.

A Leader at Risk

Hichilema stands at a dangerous point. He managed international banks well. Now domestic anger threatens him. The violence in the Copperbelt broke his strong image. It showed a mad and hungry population. People are tired of waiting. Hichilema uses logic and math. But voters decide based on feelings. He must reconnect with normal citizens. He needs to give them real help. He must address the numbers that matter to daily life. If he ignores the anger, it will spread. The "fix-it" leader needs a solution for his own career.