HH And Lungu Hold Cordial Meeting With Rupiah Banda

President-elect Hakainde Hichilema and outgoing President Edgar Lungu held a cordial meeting yesterday at the home of former President Rupiah Banda.

The leaders - past and present - reportedly discussed the future of Zambia’s development. Writing on Facebook after the meeting, HH said: “We remain committed to ensuring a united and developed Zambia for all. We will endeavour to work round the clock and indeed ensure a country everyone can call home because what divides us is smaller than our County’s aspirations”.

Also in attendance was the former President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma, who headed up the African Union’s election observation mission, as well as the Commonwealth’s chief observer and former President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete. 

President Lungu reported that the meeting was held in a “cordial atmosphere” and said that the leaders would “continue putting our Nation first”.

The president had officially conceded to Hakainde Hichilema earlier that day, following the opposition leader’s resounding election victory. Mr Lungu congratulated HH during a national address from State House and said he would comply with a peaceful transition of power.

Foreign officials and dignitaries from around the world have lined up to congratulate HH and Zambia on a well run election.  Nicholas Wolley, the U.K high commissioner, said Zambia should consider itself an example to all nations because of the demonstrated strength of its democratic traditions. 

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, meanwhile, praised the Zambian people for coming out in such unprecedented numbers for vote for their representatives, saying “the prospect of a united, stable and prosperous Africa lies in the power of the people to freely elect their leader.”

The Nigerian president also congratulated HH on his landslide victory and said he looked forward to working with the Zambian president-elect “for the peace, development and prosperity of both nations”.