Party  President Hakainde Hichilema has started his Northern Trail beginning Friday 10th October to Monday 13th October, 2008, tentatively.

His scheduled programme was for Luapula tour, starting with Mansa, but he was diverted to Northern Province due to Acting-President Rupiah Banda's tour to the same area (Mansa and later other parts of Luapula). Apparently, this is the third time Mr. Rupiah Banda’s campaign team has tried to thwart’s HH’s campaign programme (but to no avail) by following him to an area where he is touring. It all started with Northwestern (NW) Trail where HH was scheduled to address rallies after the Likumbi Lyamize ceremony of the Luvale People. Mr. Hichilema was forced to abandon the tour of NW and instead rushed to attend an ordination of some Catholic Bishops in Mpika, Northern Province.

He later lodged a complaint with Inspector-General (IG) of the Zambia Police over the cancellation of UPND rallies when the acting president was in that particular province. With the clarification from the IG that two political parties can be in one province as long as they are in different towns, HH’s team  hit the road for Western trail parallel to  RB’s group. His trip was a resounding success, as reported by the independent media, The Post newspapers. Some observers say the jubilation of the people of western province over HH and the UPND is reminiscent of the 2001 scenario.