Fred M’membe, President of the Socialist Party, has expressed serious concerns about President Hakainde Hichilema’s intention to reintroduce a voluntary National Youth Service, suggesting it serves a more sinister purpose ahead of the 2026 elections. According to M’membe, this initiative appears to be a strategy to assemble a private reserve army for political leverage during the upcoming elections.
M’membe argues that the timing of this initiative is alarming, claiming that its primary goal is to train youths in military skills, preparing them to operate as enforcers for the ruling party during the elections. He cautions that such a move could lead to violence, asserting that both the public and opposition would be ill-equipped to resist a politically motivated military force. He cites Hichilema’s previous comments about maintaining power, suggesting that these remarks imply a plan to secure his position through intimidation.
Furthermore, M’membe critiques Hichilema’s offer to fund the training of 156 youths—one for each elected constituency—arguing that military training programs should be financed by the government and approved by Parliament, rather than through private sponsorship. He warns about a dangerous precedent where powerful individuals could create competing factions within the military, undermining democratic principles.
M’membe also highlights broader issues within Hichilema’s administration, such as the perceived politicization of the police and judicial systems, which he says operate more like tools of the ruling party than impartial entities. He expresses concern over recent arrests and legal actions against members of the opposition, implying that these are efforts to sideline political rivals and suppress dissent in the lead-up to the elections.
He calls for the restoration of fairness in the electoral process, urging that opposition parties should be allowed to operate freely, with respect for democratic norms. M’membe warns that if Hichilema continues to clamp down on dissent and employ state institutions against his critics, it could lead to widespread disillusionment and potential violence.
Further, he criticizes the Electoral Commission of Zambia for its perceived bias and urges the resignation of commissioners aligned with the ruling party, emphasizing that the integrity of the electoral process is paramount for national peace.
M’membe concludes by cautioning that when citizens feel their democratic avenues for opposition are constricted, there may be a temptation to resort to undemocratic means. He hopes Hichilema will heed these warnings rather than dismiss them as mere opposition noise
