The former dissident, who was elected head of state by Zambia’s president in August 2021, has been praised abroad for his governing power.
“ If they could, the pages of the Zambian newspapers would blush with pride. The American president spoke of Zambia. It was through the national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, that Biden spoke of the progressive “new dawn” initiated by Hakainde Hichilema (HH).
The statement was made in Washington at the International Conference Against Corruption in early December. Some headlines in the Zambian press echoed this in one: “Biden praises HH”, “Biden salutes HH”.
A year and a half after the victory, former political opponents celebrated abroad. The United States has chosen Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to host the Democratization Summit on March 29-30, 2023.
The goal is “To prove that democracy still works and improves people’s lives,” according to the US State Department. Europeans are also eyeing Hakainde Hichilema. On 23 June 2022, he addressed the European Parliament in Brussels. He is Zambia’s first head of state.
Hakainde Hichilema took the opportunity to denounce the war in Ukraine, pleasing the Europeans. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “We must help Zambia advance as Russia expands its influence in Africa.” “On 12 October 2022, Zambia stood out from seven other countries in southern Africa by condemning Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory in a UN vote.