Zambia’s new president sworn in to fix economy and rights

Newly elected Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday vowed to rebuild the struggling economy and reduce poverty as he was sworn in following elections hailed as a milestone for African opposition movements.

“We are going to grow our economy so that we can lift more people out of poverty than ever before,” Hichilema, 59, told thousands of jubilant supporters – wearing the red and yellow colors of his United Development Party. national – in the Heroes’ Stadium in Lusaka.

Hichilema also pledged to restore respect for human rights and freedoms eroded under his predecessor.

In his sixth presidential bid, Hichilema defeated outgoing President Edgar Lungu, 64, by nearly a million votes – a landslide caused by economic hardship and restricted freedoms under the previous regime.

The victory is the 17th opposition victory in sub-Saharan Africa since 2015 and was achieved despite a restricted campaign and alleged rigging in favor of Lungu’s party.

“We have shown the world the resilience of our democracy,” exclaimed Hichilema in a face mask, dark suit and bright red tie.

He recalled that his victory marked Zambia’s third “peaceful leadership transition” since the adoption of multi-party democracy in 1990 – an example for “Africa and the global world”.

‘New dawn’

Lungu and his rival were neck and neck both in early elections in 2015 and in polls in 2016.

Map of Zambia. By (AFP)

But the incumbent’s popularity has been undermined by unsustainable infrastructure spending that has plunged the copper-rich southern African country of more than 18 million people into default on its debt.

The local kwacha currency has fallen and inflation has reached over 24%, making basic commodities unaffordable in a country where more than half of the population lived in poverty before the pandemic.

Hichilema, affectionately known as “HH” or “Bally” – an informal term for father – has vowed to clean up the mess and bring back frightened investors.

“The erosion of our economy, the debt situation has become unsustainable,” he said, stressing that “no Zambian should go to bed hungry” in a country so rich in natural resources.

He announced plans to stimulate and diversify the mining industry of Africa’s second largest copper producer and “facilitate local ownership”.

He also vowed to crack down on political “thugs” and the crackdown on dissent under Lungu, reassuring independent media that they would no longer face tear gas or shutdowns.

Hichilema himself has clashed with authorities on numerous occasions and regularly mentions that he has been arrested 15 times since entering politics.

“It’s a new dawn,” he said. “The time has come for all Zambians to feel full freedom.”

Youth and activism

Many spectators had spent the night at the stadium to secure a place.

Many supporters spent the night at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka to secure a spot. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP / File)

“I came to witness Lungu’s total burial and corruption,” said Mateyo Simukonda, 36, who had traveled from northern Copperbelt province, which is home to the heart of Zambia’s mining activity.

“We have now put him to rest and let him rest in peace,” he told AFP, adding that he had been waiting there since 4 a.m.

Guests included opposition politicians from the region as well as past and current African leaders.

Zambia becomes only the second southern African country in recent years to hand over its presidency to an opposition candidate after Malawi in 2020.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of neighboring Zimbabwe, who attended the ceremony with his main rival Nelson Chamisa, has previously warned opponents not to harbor similar ambitions.

But analysts believe change is accelerating on a continent with a history of despotic leadership and democratic weakness.

This change is primarily driven by a younger generation of dominant voters more connected to the outside world and less tolerant of restricted freedoms, they argue.

Almost a third of Zambian election participants were between 24 and 34 years old.

Authoritarian leaders “could learn some lessons from this,” Zambian economist Grieve Chelwa told AFP.