There will be police at polling stations, I’m ready for Tonse … tizagwebana mailo- HH

POLITICS

By Mwansa Kaumba — Zambian Observer

There will be police at polling stations, I’m ready for Tonse … tizagwebana mailo- HH
President Hakainde Hichilema has delivered a robust and unyielding warning to opposition factions, declaring that the state is fully prepared to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process against any attempts to spark civil unrest. Speaking before a massive crowd of supporters during a high-stakes campaign rally in Lusaka's densely populated Kanyama township, President Hichilema asserted that his administration was elected primarily to uphold national peace and security, and would not hesitate to deploy the full force of the law. The President's remarks came in direct response to strategies allegedly adopted by opposition elements, including directives urging supporters to linger at polling stations long after casting their ballots and to aggressively shadow vehicles transporting physical ballots to tallying centres. Condemning these tactics as a deliberate blueprint for chaos, Hichilema invoked a firm warning in local parlance, stating, "Tizagwebana mailo—we shall handle each other tomorrow," while emphasizing that security personnel would maintain a strict and visible presence across all voting locations. Addressing the socioeconomic backdrop of the election cycle, President Hichilema pivoted to highlight his administration’s economic milestones, noting recent improvements in the stability of the Zambian Kwacha against major international currencies like the US dollar. He cautioned the electorate against reverting to past governance models, drawing sharp contrasts with previous administrations. Furthermore, he outlined localized developmental commitments for Kanyama and surrounding areas, including plans for healthcare infrastructure expansion, educational training facilities, and road network upgrades tailored to accommodate a burgeoning 24-hour economy. Political analysts view the President's hardline stance as a crucial psychological pivot in the final hours before voting commences, signaling to both jittery citizens and aggressive political actors tha