HH remains the best in 2026 – Kabuswe

…projects that President Hichilema will most likely garner more votes in 2026 than he did in 2021 because his popularity has been surging since taking over the governance of the country

By BARNABAS ZULU

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema’s popularity has been surging since becoming head of State and having performed to the expectations of Zambians, he is certainly headed for a landslide victory in the 2026 general election, Paul Kabuswe has said.
Mr Kabuswe, the minister of Mines and Minerals Development is projecting that President Hichilema will garner more votes than he did in the 2021 general election because he had become more popular than ever before.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Kabuswe said despite the rejection of UPND Kwacha Member of Parliament Charles Mulenga, the Copperbelt Province had remained the party’s stronghold and that President Hichilema was comfortably on the saddle delivering development to all regions.
He said the UPND had gained ground and that was the more reason they were winning by-elections across the country.
“First of all, the Copperbelt was the stronghold for who? Was it not the PF? Copperbelt has always been our stronghold since 2021 when we won power.
In fact in my constituency, we had two by-elections. The last one was the recent one where we won by a very huge margin. So, if someone experiences some setbacks somewhere is it the same?” Mr Kabuswe said.
He explained that President Hichilema had remained a popular candidate in the country and that the opposition have no message and that was why they were resorting to cheap propaganda and lies.
“Have they taken research to go to the Copperbelt to say that Kabuswe is unpopular or Chipoka (Mulenga) is unpopular? In fact President Hakainde Hichilema will win the Copperbelt.
He is very popular despite what happened in Kwacha. Did you see how they welcomed him in church? Does it mean that the President is unpopular?
Did you see how they welcomed him when he stood to speak in church? People were lining up to just get a glimpse of President Hichilema in Kwacha,” Mr Kabuswe said.
He stated that Mr Mulenga was still being known in Kwacha Constituency and that was why some parts of Kwacha did not know him as the constituency was too big.
“The MP is still being known by the people there. The constituency is too big. He was elected through a by elections and his is why he is still getting known.
He will pull through, just wait and see,” Mr Kabuswe said.
“Even me, I have not been able to tour the entire constituency. But can someone say Kabuswe is not known? They should come to Chililabombwe and see. HH (Hakainde Hichilema) remains popular and Copperbelt is his stronghold,” Mr Kabuswe said.