Unrest erupts as President Hichilema visits Chingola

On Saturday afternoon (8 November 2025), what began as a public address by President Hichilema in Chingola escalated into a chaotic scene of vandalism and unrest.

Around 14:00, as the President was speaking to residents, a group of people began breaking into and looting nearby shops. When the police tried to move in to contain the disturbance, the crowd charged towards the venue where the presidential address was ongoing.

During this flare-up:

A police vehicle (a Toyota Land Cruiser) had its windscreen smashed, was overturned and set alight. A “presidential holding tent” belonging to a company contracted for the event (Events Matters Company of Lusaka) was burned, along with floor carpets, runners, a presidential portrait and even a portable toilet on site. Two suspects, one 24-year-old and another 21-year-old, were apprehended by police in relation to the incident. Calm was reported restored after the disturbance and police ramped up patrols to prevent further escalation. What triggered the unrest?

While the article doesn’t go into full depth on motives, here are some of the contributing factors:

The crowd’s mood may have been inflamed by local grievances; there’s mention in a related article of a major market burning recently, and residents expressing concerns about mining at Senseli. The disruption apparently began while the President was speaking — suggesting perhaps some faction of the crowd felt marginalized, unheard, or simply chose the moment to express frustration. The fact that looting accompanied the incident indicates an opportunistic dimension: the unrest didn’t remain peaceful protest but turned destructive. How authorities responded

The police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga stated that security personnel moved the President to safety — to the landing pad at Chikola Secondary School grounds — once the situation threatened the venue.

One police officer discharged ten (10) rounds into the air in an attempt to disperse the mob — though it did not immediately stop the violence.

The police have cautioned the public about engaging in vandalism and emphasised that maintaining peace is a collective responsibility.

Why this matters

Here are several reasons why this incident is significant:

It happened during a high-profile visit by the head of state, underlining that even strongly publicised events are vulnerable to security breakdowns. The destruction of government property (tent, police vehicle, etc) demonstrates the cost of unrest — in terms of public funds and disruption of normal governance. It reflects the deeper tensions in local communities (e.g., in mining towns like Chingola) where promises of development may not yet have translated into satisfaction. The incident may erode public confidence: if a speech by the President can be disrupted this way, citizens may question the effectiveness of governance and law enforcement. What comes next? Investigations will likely determine the full extent of property loss and identify perpetrators beyond the two suspects already arrested; the value of the destroyed property was still being determined at the time of the report. Authorities will probably increase security for future presidential or major public engagements in Chingola and similar districts. There is political risk: opposition voices, local leaders and community groups may seize on this incident to critique government performance — both in security and development. For Chingola’s community, this might prompt renewed calls for dialogue, improved service delivery, and addressing grievances before they overflow into violence. Final thoughts

For people in Chingola and beyond, this incident is a reminder that calm and order are fragile — especially in places where economic expectations, social issues and community-government relations are all under strain. For the government, it’s a signal to engage more deeply with local concerns and ensure that symbolic visits actually translate into tangible change.

For you and me, the take-away is this: civic engagement matters, and so does accountability. Violence and vandalism hurt everyone — but so does apathy when voices remain unheard. If authorities and community leaders can turn this moment into a catalyst for constructive dialogue, then maybe something positive can come out of the disruption.

If you like, I can pull in more background on Chingola (mining economy, social dynamics) or look for first-hand reactions from local residents. Would you like me to dig into that?