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The Zambian presidential, parliamentary and council elections held over the pastย weekend have ushered in a new Government.
The opposition United Party for Nationalย Development(UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema got a landslide victory. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) congratulates Hichilema for this sterling victory. This is a fitting tribute to his resilience โ having contested for and lost elections five times.
In a reconciliatory note, Hichilema has stressed that he and his team are not going into office to arrest those who arrested them. Like many who oppose governments in Africa,ย Hichilema has often found himself harassed by the incumbent. He has been jailed forย proposing an alternative agenda for Zambia. Like he rightly put it, โpolitical tolerance isย when you accept that when other peopleโs views and opinions differ from yours, they are not your enemies. We must embrace diversity and respect those who oppose usโ.
Hichilemaโs victory is a victory for democracy in Southern Africa, a region where powerย hardly changes hands of contesting parties. In conceding defeat, Edgar Lungu promised toย comply with the constitutional provisions for a peaceful transfer of power. The UDC applaudsย him, especially after he (Lungu) who enjoyed the trappings of incumbency claimed that theย elections where โnot free and fairโ.
Elections in some Southern African countries have been a sham. Zimbabwea is notoriousย for not holding elections which are neither free nor fair. The 2019 elections in Botswana wereย marred by harassment of the main opposition leader and widespread rigging. To most rulingย parties in SADC, elections are only free and fair when they win. The moment electorates turnย against them, they resort to outright intimidation and rigging. That is why as the UDC we applauded Malawi last year and we now praise the Zambians.
Hichilema, a self-made man from a very humble background has ascended to the topย office in his country. This is a lesson to all. As the UDC we further applaud the Zambianย people for their decisiveness in dealing with incompetent regimes. The thank them forย condemning such to the dustbin of history. For an ordinary Motswana, the lesson is simple,ย if a Government does not deliver, vote it out. Also jealously guard against distortion of yourย will and rigging to ensure that democracy is preserved.
The ordinary Zambians made it their responsibility to ensure that there is no rigging in the elections.
UDC CommunicationsMoeti Mohwasa
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ยฉ 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.
ยฉ 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.