Organized People’s Party (OPP) President Dr. Brian Mushimba has placed retired service personnel and traditional leaders at the center of his latest policy pledges, saying an OPP government will end years of neglect and dependency.
Dr. Mushimba said his administration will establish a dedicated agency to handle the welfare of retired service personnel.
“On taking care of those that served in uniform: we are proposing establishing a Veterans Affairs Department/ministry to singularly serve, honor those among us that served in uniform and ensure they retire in dignity,” he said.
He explained that the department would manage pension administration, hospitals, clinics, and healthcare, ensuring those who defended Zambia are not abandoned after service.
“These men and women risked their lives for this country. It is wrong that they spend their retirement years fighting for pensions or struggling to access healthcare,” Dr. Mushimba said.
The 2026 Presidential candidate has also proposed a new financing model for chiefs.
“We are proposing establishing a Traditional Leadership Fund (TLF) that will collect a percentage of revenues from all rates paid to local and federal authorities for infrastructure developed on land under jurisdiction of our traditional leaders, ”he stated.
Dr. Mushimba said the TLF would give chiefs direct revenue from economic activity in their chiefdoms.
“This way, traditional leaders will not need to beg central government for a monthly salary or for a palace to be constructed. They will have their own money. By doing this, we shall restore dignity to our traditional leaders across the country,” he added.
The pledges form part of the OPP’s broader Economic Recovery Plan, which Dr. Mushimba says is built on practical solutions for citizens who have been overlooked. _
“We cannot build a strong Zambia if we dishonor those who served it in uniform, or if we keep our traditional leaders dependent,”he said.
Francis Chipalo
