In 2012 while attending a Summer School in UCT-Cape Town, I told my Zambian comrades that HH will become their President soon. I didn’t anticipate that it would be a long, bumpy and dangerous road. I remember telling my fellow Africans and the time that I hope to be in Parliament in about two years. I’m still in touch with at least two, one in Zimbabwe and another in Namibia. I have one friend in UPND and I occasionally told her they’ll rule Zambia. Look at God… now the police and soldiers who arrested and imprisoned HH for trumped-up treason charges must salute him and protect him as their Commander in Chief…God is great, all the time. Nothing lasts forever!
Zambians didn’t play with an opportunity in 1991 when multiparty democracy returned; they removed Kenneth Kaunda and his UNIP and voted for Fredrick Chiluba of MMD. In 2011, 20 years later, they removed the corrupt and bereft of ideas MMD, then led by Rupia Banda and voted for Michael Sata of the PF. When Sata died in office, Zambians clearly wanted Hakainde Hichilema of UPND, but PF had other plans and undermined the vote which HH narrowly lost to Edgar Lungu. At UDC rallies in 2019, I encouraged Batswana to be like Zambians who, I predicted, will remove PF in the 2021 elections. I also referenced Malawians who changed governments at least four times now…from MCP to UDF in 1994, DPP in 2004, PP 2012-2014 (automatic succession), DPP 2014 until Tonse Alliance won in 2020 after an attempt to undermine the vote by the incumbent.
This time Zambians didn’t play, they overwhelmingly defeated dictatorship, economic mismanagement, corruption and unethical conduct and voted for change and hope. I have personally prayed for this day in Zambia with hope that HH will make a great leader. If he disappoints the Zambian people, they will remove him, same way they did KK, Banda and Lungu.
I hope Batswana can learn something from some of these African countries and vote for change in 2024. It’s much easier to vote out a corrupt and incompetent liar than a dictator.
[Dithapelo Keorapetse]