Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema pledges jobs and lauds free education in new manifesto

President Hakainde Hichilema launched the United Party for National Development (UPND) manifesto in Lusaka, outlining ambitious economic targets such as producing 10 million tonnes of maize, generating 10,000 MW of electricity, attracting five million tourists annually and expanding copper, soy and wheat output. He promised to create jobs for the unemployed, expand state universities to every province and accelerate digitisation of government services. Former minister Dora Siliya praised the free‑education policy introduced by Hichilema, describing it as a lifeline for poor Zambians. She cited testimony from a law students’ guild president that free schooling and school‑feeding programmes now enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to stay in school and focus on learning. Both leaders framed education and job creation as central to Zambia’s economic growth and social mobility.