The first verdicts on President Hichilema's opening address arrived on Saturday, and the most striking came from the opposition benches. Stephen Kampyongo said the development goals set out in the speech can be reached if Zambians embrace peace and unity — among the first responses from the opposition since the new House sat.
Mr Kampyongo welcomed the President's recognition that divisions must be addressed and a less hostile political environment created, saying meaningful development depends on citizens living together despite their differences, Lusaka Times reported.
The President had closed the address with that appeal. "Without unity, there can be no shared future," he told MPs, and — repeating a line from his inauguration — "Whatever our political choices were, we remain one law-abiding people, bound together by Zambia, and a common destiny." He also acknowledged what he called "the toxicity around here" in the domestic political environment.
London backs the agenda, with a condition
British High Commissioner Rebecca Terzeon said the United Kingdom is ready to work with the Government to promote growth, strengthen trade and attract investment, judging that the address made economic growth the clear focus of the next five years.
The United Kingdom has been a close partner to Zambia for many years. Zambeef has received support from British investment. There are also UK-backed companies and traders active in sectors such as energy.
— British High Commissioner Rebecca Terzeon, quoted by Lusaka Times
She pointed to the recent visit by Alastair Long, the UK Trade Commissioner for Africa, who held talks on mining, energy, finance and infrastructure — and who, the Times of Zambia notes, has called Zambia "one of Africa's most exciting investment destinations". But Ms Terzeon paired the backing with a caveat: opposition parties need enough space to operate and hold the Government accountable, democratic institutions should remain independent, transparent and effective, and a free media matters to democracy.
Vice-President W.K. Mutale Nalumango made the Government-side appeal, saying the country must look beyond political differences and that its democratic maturity will be measured by respect for institutions. Moving the vote of thanks, nominated MP Mubita Anakoka urged members to study the speech before debating it.
The new-look House featured in the responses too. Lazarus Hakalebula, a mixed-member proportional-representation MP, welcomed the promised talent-identification programme for the creative sector as a chance for people whose abilities have gone unrecognised. First Lady Mutinta Hichilema said the constitutional reforms brought 20 more women, 15 youths and five persons with disabilities into Parliament. UNFPA's country representative, Anna Holmstrom, welcomed the emphasis on medical-supply chains.
The benchmark the Speaker has already set hangs over all of it: Nelly Mutti has declared the Standing Orders her only political party and the Constitution her only manifesto, and said all laws must be measured against the Grow Zambia targets — the so-called 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1 agenda of 10,000 megawatts, 10 million tonnes of maize, five million tourists, three million tonnes of copper and US$1 billion in beef exports. MPs take up the President's pronouncements in the House this week, the opposition's first formal chance to answer the unity call.
Sources: Lusaka Times, “Kampyongo Says Peace And Unity Key To Hichilema's Growth Targets” (10 Oct 2026); Times of Zambia, “HH opens Parley today” (9 Oct 2026).