Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema’s landslide victory over incumbent Edgar Lungu in Zambia’s presidential election gives many Zambians reason to look into the future with optimism.
Zambian nationals speaking to Nampa said the outcome of the just-concluded elections is a new dawn for hope for a country in dire financial circumstances.
Last year, Zambia became Africa’s first pandemic-era sovereign default after failing to honour its international debt payments.
Hichilema, 59, of the United Party for National Development (UPND) was declared the winner of the general presidential elections on Sunday, toppling Lungu, 64, of the Patriotic Front who has presided over the copper-rich nation since 2015.
That country’s electoral commission said Hichilema got 2 810 777 votes against Lungu’s 1 814 201 in the 12 August 2021 poll.
Alice Simushi who lives in Lusaka said the run-up to the elections was marred by injustices observed by both the citizens and the international community, which swayed the vote in Hichilema’s favour.
“It is a very monumental moment and this is because we have a long history of allowing politicians to have their way with us and to plunder the country while ordinary Zambians suffer,” she said.
What also stood out for Simushi is Zambia’s youth turning out in numbers to decide the country’s fate through the ballot.
“We are talking about a new Zambia where people are no longer going to allow themselves to be subjected to injustice or unfairness and misery,” Simushi added.
Another Zambian national, Choolwe Himoonga also from Lusaka described the outcome a breath of fresh air, lamenting that they have become accustomed to corruption, tribal division, rising cost of living and general lack of leadership.
“My expectations from the incoming administration are that there will be good leadership and we also look forward to the prudent use of national resources and that capable people are put in positions of responsibility and that they execute their job as expected, particularly when it comes to issues of youth, women and key sectors of the economy,” said Himoonga.
Kevin Kamalata, a Zambian living in Namibia said it is a new day for Zambia and they hope for a president who would bring sanity and prudence to the administration of government.
Namibian political analyst, Natji Tjirera commented that the outcome of the Zambian elections is a significant day in the history of African and Zambian politics as well as African democracy and should be welcomed.
Zambians through these elections proved that electorates own elections and have power, and this is also a lesson that no one and no politician has a monopoly on leadership, he added.
“This should serve as a lesson to Namibian electorates, similarly the governing party should be reminded that the power lies with the people and it is for the interest of the people that they should govern the country and for the opposition parties, this should serve as a motivating factor,” Tjirera said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
