Bally’s first 100: My score card

WHAT can one do in 100 days? Well a lot can happen in 100 days. If you are Patson Daka, you can score a couple of hat-tricks for your club. Or if you are a lucky dog, you can be caught pants down with a stash of stolen money and still walk away smiling.

But if you are President Hakainde Hichilema, you could simply jump on a plane, fly halfway round the globe only to dine with former college mates who now hold jobs as big as yours, and have a photo op with the future king of England (if it ever happens).

Of course as you might already have noticed, I’m being overly simplistic and a bit sarcastic, which is a result of envy for the President’s job, I must confess. Which I beg to be forgiven for.

But there is so much buzz about President HH’s first 100 days in office, which of course is a milestone – although not backed by any political scientific evidence as to its significance.

Suffice to say there is a history to the first 100 days in office mark, and it is steeped in American politics.

It all started with Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was first elected in 1932, during the Great Depression.
Roosevelt set out to make significant and quick changes in economic and social policy, through both legislative and regulatory actions.

Shortly after taking office, Roosevelt also gave the first of the many so-called “fireside chats” in which he spoke directly to the American public over the radio and explained in simpler terms how he was trying to solve the country’s problems.

Then of course we heard about Michael Sata’s first 90 days, although we would be told later that he was actually not using the Gregorian calendar when he made that declaration. In fact, we were told it was just a figure of speech.

Of course it was a figure of speech, how could we ever have believed that? What do we take politicians for? Politicians say the dumbest things during campaigns; and it is all because we as citizens act gullible!

So, what have we after HH’s 100 days in office? Nothing!

Yes, no cadres driving in the wrong lane, no cadres running bus stations and markets and no rallies at the airport.

Phew! I just diffused tension from the 2.8 right there – if they are still 2.8 that is.

Restoration of Democracy

The restoration of the rule of law and sanity in our country ought to be Mr Hichilema’s biggest score since he assumed office; and of course it is one of the most important because it has created an environment where citizens are free to move in any attire and speak freely without facing the wrath of machete-wielding PF hooligans.   

Where opposition party leaders can appear on radio talk shows, bash the ruling party and its governance and walk to their cars without having to duck stones or escaping through the roof of a radio station. I hope those days are gone for good.

And so for the restoration of our democratic freedoms, I give HH 9/10. I take away the one merely as a benefit of doubt. What if all we are seeing currently is a smokescreen? 

Fight against Corruption

HH was largely voted on his promise to fight corruption which many citizens thought had reached its climax during the PF, but so far, all we have heard are huge pronouncements and unsubstantiated revelations about how much money was stolen and nothing more. 

The closest we got to fighting alleged crime under the previous regime was Faith Musonda, and boy did we bungle it! It will now take a lot of work for the new dawn administration for citizens to regain the confidence that they had in them to fight corruption.

So far, this fight leaves much to be desired, and is definitely not what we expected – that after 100 days there are still no real successful cases being pursued by the Anti-Corruption Commission or before the courts of law save one or two. In a country where we are told there was wanton stealing? I hope “methodical” will get us somewhere in this fight.

For this, I give HH 5/10. Faith alone takes away three points.

Personal Image

The President has successfully exchanged the image of a farm manager for a spotless presidential look. It is definitely a good transformation – not a total transformation like we saw with his predecessor though. He has also proved to be a good communicator who speaks with clarity, with a good voice projection.

He has so far been thrown to the deep end twice – attending two important global fora, and he managed to swim with grace.

And so for good posturing, excellent speech presentation and statesmanship, I give him 10/10.

Although the same cannot be said about communication from the presidency and government. At best, it’s a mess and if the status quo continues, it will reflect badly on the President.

Delivery on Promises

Well to be honest, I think 100 days is not long enough to make a fair judgement on the actions of a new government, but it is long enough to see the direction where it is taking the nation. And so far what the President has shown is good intention and sincerity to move the nation into a prosperous future, but intention is just that – intention. And one can, indeed, be sincerely wrong.

Of course the delivery on free education is a huge score, but I would rather wait for the actual delivery. Free may actually be costly in the long run if not well implemented.

The economy? No, you didn’t possibly think that would change overnight; or did you?

So far, the image HH has portrayed is that of a nice guy who, at least, can be trusted.

And for him, 100 days is long enough to settle and start working.

And so, rather than reflecting on the past 100 days and crying over what should have happened in the first 100 days, we must focus on the next five years and see whether Mr Nice Guy will turn out to be real nice at all.

For me, the clock starts ticking today, and what HH does between now and August 12, 2026 will determine whether what he has shown us in words is what he is in deeds.

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