Southern Province Turns Out in Force as HH Tour Gathers Pace

President Hakainde Hichilema has completed the first two days of his Southern Province tour to thousands-strong crowds, carrying a consistent message of development, peace and unity.

On day one, residents of Chirundu, Siavonga, Chikankata and Mazabuka turned out in their numbers. The President thanked them for their support and pledged to keep expanding the programmes that have defined the New Dawn administration: free education, which has returned more than 2.5 million learners to school, alongside social cash transfer, cash for work, expanded school feeding, restored student meal allowances, the recruitment of over 40,000 teachers and 20,000 health workers, and a greatly enlarged Constituency Development Fund. In Siavonga he urged citizens to protect the gains made since 2021 and to safeguard peace and democratic freedoms.

In Mazabuka, the President looked ahead, pledging a Lusaka–Livingstone dual carriageway in a second term to ease congestion and boost trade and tourism, the upgrading of Mazabuka District Hospital into a fully-fledged general hospital, and a new skills training centre to equip young people for work.

Day two took the President to Itezhi Tezhi, Namwala, Monze and Choma. In Itezhi Tezhi he criticised the earlier misuse of funds meant for the Itezhi Tezhi–Mongu Road, insisting public resources be protected, and pledged to prioritise that road and the Mbila–Kalomo Road. He closed in Choma with promises of township and rural roads, a new Choma General Hospital, a Lusaka–Kazungula dual carriageway and an international airport.

Throughout, the President's appeal was the same: reject the politics of the past and renew the UPND's mandate on 13 August. "Do not look back. Let's keep moving forward together," he told supporters, as Southern Province signalled its backing for continued development, peace and stability.