Can New Leaders Rescue Kalikiliki From Years of Neglect?

By Mazombwe Banda

KALIKILIKI, Lusaka — When darkness falls in parts of Kalikiliki Ward 35, many residents say they avoid walking alone. Some claim even taxi drivers increasingly refuse to enter certain sections of the densely populated settlement because of fears of attacks linked to rising criminal activity and poor road conditions.

For 31-year-old Moses Phiri of Mtendere East, the danger becomes even worse when someone falls sick at night.

“Our health post only operates from 08:00 hours to 17:00 hours,” he said. “If someone gets sick at night, transport becomes another problem because of insecurity and the roads. Even Yango drivers fear coming here.”

et Kalikiliki Ward, located about 11 kilometres east of Lusaka’s central business district, is home to an estimated population of more than 91,160 people and 22,580 registered voters, according to Zambia Census of Population figures and the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s 2025 Final Register of Voters, respectively. 

Created from Mtendere Ward 30 before the 2021 general election, Kalikiliki Ward 35 has become one of the most densely populated wards in Munali Constituency. The ward includes Kalikiliki main community, Kalale, Weber area, Mtendere East and the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) area, with 29 polling stations spread across the constituency.

But despite rapid population growth and increasing political importance, residents say development has failed to keep pace with the community’s expanding needs.

Many point to poor roads, limited health services, blocked sewer systems, rising insecurity, inadequate sanitation and the absence of a government school within the ward as signs of long-standing neglect.

Now, as campaigns ahead of the 2026 general election begin to intensify, residents say they are looking for leaders capable of delivering visible development rather than promises.

Health Services Under Pressure

Residents say access to healthcare remains one of the biggest challenges facing Kalikiliki Ward.

Despite the area’s large and growing population, the ward has only two health posts — one located in the main Kalikiliki community and another in Mtendere East near Salama Park.

The first health post was constructed during the Patriotic Front administration, while the second was built using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

According to Munali Constituency Constituency Development Fund Committee Chairperson, Auditor Mazuba, the Mtendere East Health Post consumed K1,516,420 from CDF allocations to the ward between 2019 and part of 2025. The facility was officially handed over to the community last year.

“The breakdown of the amount is as follows: K697,224 was spent on the actual structure of the health post, K385,418 on the wall fence, and K433,778 on medical equipment, furniture, and other clinic requirements,” he said.

Both facilities operate only during daytime hours, forcing residents requiring emergency medical attention at night to seek help from clinics outside the ward, including Chainda, Mtendere and Kalingalinga clinics.

Residents say the limited healthcare infrastructure has become more noticeable as the ward continues to expand.

Poor Roads and Growing Insecurity

Residents also expressed concern over rising criminal activity and deteriorating roads, which they say are affecting daily life and public safety.

Some residents claim transport operators increasingly avoid parts of the ward because of fears of attacks, especially at night.

The ward currently depends mainly on the Kalikiliki police post, while some residents also rely on the nearby NRDC police post to report crimes.

Few weeks ago, Zambia Police Service spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed that police had shot dead five suspected criminals in Chibolya Compound who were believed to have regrouped there after operating from Kalikiliki.

“These suspects from Kalikiliki had regrouped in the Chibolya compound,” Chilabi said at the time.

The development heightened concerns among residents, many of whom are now calling for increased police patrols and improved security infrastructure.

Residents say poor road infrastructure has further worsened accessibility in parts of the ward, particularly during the rainy season.

Sanitation and sewer problems

In parts of Kalikiliki, blocked sewer lines and uncollected garbage have become part of daily life.

Residents say some overflowing drains remain unattended for weeks, raising fears of possible outbreaks of water-borne diseases during the rainy season.

In the main Kalikiliki community, some households depend on informal waste collectors who often delay garbage collection for days or even weeks after waste has piled up.

In Mtendere East and surrounding areas, some residents pay private garbage collectors about K75 monthly for weekly collection services.

Rosemary Mwanza, who has lived in Kalikiliki since 1994, said sanitation problems have persisted for years despite repeated complaints.

“We’ve been forsaken by our public leaders,” she said. There’s nothing to show in this ward in terms of infrastructure development in all areas, it is (one of) the least developed in this constituency.”

She said blocked sewer systems had become another major concern for residents.

No government school within the ward

Despite its large population, residents say Kalikiliki Ward still does not have a government school serving the community directly.

As a result, many families rely on community and private schools, while some children walk long distances or spend money on transport to access public schools in neighbouring areas.

Some learners reportedly travel as far as Chibelo in Lusaka Central Constituency to attend school.

“Niyokosa chabe (It’s just hard), as much as we appreciate the free education law by the government,” said resident Ruth Banda. “but it would help if we also had a government school within this ward.”

She said many parents still struggled with transport costs despite tuition-free education.

“Land is not even the problem,” she said. “The government can still find a way to build at least one school here.”

Questions over CDF awareness and access 

Some residents also questioned whether ordinary community members were adequately benefiting from the CDF, particularly the bursary and skills development components.

Mwanza said many youths in the area could benefit from CDF opportunities if there was greater transparency and awareness.

“We just hear about CDF and bursaries, but I don’t personally know anyone who has benefited,” she said. “If leaders can sensitise people properly and ensure transparency, many youths here can improve their lives.”

Her concerns reflect growing public interest in how development funds are being distributed and implemented at ward level.

Delayed recreation facility

Residents also questioned delays in completing rehabilitation works at the ward’s only major playground.

The facility, which serves as the main recreational space for young people in the area, has reportedly remained inaccessible for more than a year while upgrade works continue.

Workers were recently found constructing a perimeter wall around the grounds in preparation for additional fencing works, although goalposts removed during the rehabilitation process had not yet been reinstalled.

Some residents said they had received little information about when the project would be completed.

“Yes, we want development,” Phiri said. “But this project has taken too long. It has been over a year now and people are not being told what is happening.”

Efforts to obtain a response from outgoing councillor Shadreck Chimwang’a were unsuccessful by press time as his mobile phone remained switched off.

Voters looking for new leadership

As political campaigns begin to intensify ahead of the 2026 elections, many residents say they are now looking for leaders capable of addressing the ward’s long-standing problems.

Residents interviewed said they wanted leaders who would prioritise sanitation, roads, health services, schools and youth empowerment.

For John Mpundu, 29, the next councillor must understand the realities facing the community.

“We need leaders who will work with the community and lobby for real development,” he said. “People are tired of promises.”

Several individuals are reportedly seeking adoption as ward candidates ahead of the August 13 elections, including Joseph Kumbukani Phiri, Gabriel Chanda, Aaron Kaleya and Modester Zulu.

While some aspirants declined interviews citing busy schedules, Phiri said his focus would be on sanitation, youth empowerment and community development. Having previously worked as a water project officer, he said his experience had exposed him to many of the ward’s long-standing challenges.

“I’ve grown up in this ward,” he said. “I know the problems people are facing because I’ve seen them over the years.”

For many residents, however, the coming election is less about campaign rhetoric and more about whether leaders can finally address decades-old problems that continue to shape daily life in Kalikiliki.

“We have heard promises for many years,” said Mwanza. “What people want now is development we can actually see.”

Mazombwe is a talented journalist based in Lusaka at Zambia Daily Mail. He is currently on a three-month paid internship at MakanDay after he emerged second in the prestigious 2025 MakanDay Media Awards.