Zambia’s ruling party and State House have moved to ease growing political tensions over calls for President Hakainde Hichilema to remain in office beyond 2031, insisting there is no official proposal to extend his tenure.
The intervention comes after a series of public statements by ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) party supporters and officials suggesting Hichilema could seek a third term or continue serving beyond the end of his current mandate, fuelling concern among opposition groups and civil society organisations about the future of Zambia’s presidential term limits.
Speaking in Lusaka on Thursday, Hichilema’s spokesperson Clayson Hamasaka dismissed the debate as a distraction from the government’s development agenda, urging citizens to focus on issues affecting the country rather than speculation about a third term.
“One thing I can assure everyone is that President Hakainde Hichilema will not govern the country based on social media commentary,” Hamasaka said.
He added that citizens with proposals on matters of national importance should channel them through the appropriate government institutions or State House, while stressing that the administration would not restrict lawful public debate.
The UPND also sought to distance itself from the calls.
Party media director Mark Simuuwe said neither the government nor Hichilema had advanced any proposal to remove presidential term limits.
“The fact that the President has chosen not to comment should be respected. His silence should not be interpreted as either support or opposition to the various views being expressed,” Simuuwe said.
Concerns over a possible extension of Hichilema’s tenure intensified after UPND-nominated parliamentarian Florence Chama publicly argued that women wanted the president to remain in office beyond 2031.
In a video circulated widely on social media on Monday, Chama said development should take precedence over democratic considerations.
Her remarks were followed by similar comments from UPND supporter Chilufya Tayali who argued that removing presidential term limits would strengthen democracy, and party official Michael Chuzu, who suggested that Hichilema was effectively completing the political project of late UPND founder Anderson Mazoka and could begin his own mandate thereafter.
The statements sparked renewed scrutiny of Zambia’s constitutional safeguards.
Article 106 of the Constitution states that “a person who has twice held office as President is not eligible for election as President”.
Hichilema, who first took office in 2021 and was sworn in for a second term on 1 September, is, therefore, barred under the current constitution from seeking re-election after his term ends in 2031.
JN/APA