Raila congratulates Zambia’s President-elect Hakainde Hichilema
FILE PHOTO: Opposition UPND party's presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema casts his ballot in Lusaka, Zambia, August 12, 2021. REUTERS/Jean Ndaisenga/File Photo
Former Prime Minister who is also the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga Monday morning congratulated Zambia’s President-elect Hakainde Hichilema following his victory in the just concluded elections.
In his message on his official Twitter page, the ODM leader congratulated the opposition candidate for the decisive victory in the hotly contested Presidential election.
“I take this earliest opportunity to congratulate my friend Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development for the decisive victory in the presidential election,” said the former Premier.
“Amidst an unprecedented public health challenge, the Zambian people have made Africa proud for conducting a successful election,” he added.
Raila said that a free, fair, credible and verifiable election always certainly return the will of the people.
He said that it was his hope that the election strengthens Zambia’s democratic life, which would later bring more prosperity to the people and remind fellow Africans elsewhere that nothing is impossible.
“I wish you the best of luck in the days and years ahead,” said Raila Odinga.
Early Monday, Zambia’s Electoral Commission Hakainde’s win in an election that was conducted last week.
Mr Hakainde Hichilema defeated his main rival, the outgoing President Edgar Lungu, by more than a million votes.
It was Mr Hichilema’s sixth attempt at winning the presidency. His supporters have been celebrating on the streets of the capital, Lusaka.
Earlier, Mr Lungu alleged that the elections were not free and fair.
He said election officials from his Patriotic Front party had been chased from polling stations, leaving votes unprotected.
In response, Mr Hichilema’s United Party for National Development said the statement was the “desperate final act of an outgoing administration”.
In its final tally, the electoral commission said Mr Hichilema had won 2,810,777 votes to Mr Lungu’s 1,814,201 in Thursday’s election. There were seven million registered voters.
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