President Edgar Lungu Concedes Defeat, Opposition Leader Hichilema Secured A Landslide Victory

President Edgar Lungu concedes defeat in the just-concluded Zambian elections as long-time rival Hakainde Hichilema secured a landslide victory with more than 2.8 million votes. President Edgar Lungu has just over 1.8 million of the ballots cast on August 12, 2021.

Hakainde Hichilema, a business tycoon who describes himself as a “cattle boy” started his journey to the presidency in 2006 but failed six times before he finally secures a victory in the just concluded Zambian presidential election. The 59-year-old came close to securing a victory in 2016 against incumbent president Edgar Lungu but had lost by 100,000 votes, which Hichilema said was “stolen” by the incumbent.

Zambia, a copper-rich nation has seen recent economic depression and inflation. The cost of living in the copper-rich Southern Africa country has been very high over the years, with the president, Edgar Lungu being at the centre of corruption scandals, borrowing a huge sum of money millions of dollars, and signing poor deals with the Chinese. Last year, the copper-rich nation became the first African country to default on its debt during the heights of the coronavirus pandemic.

As things stand, the Zambian economy is in desperate need of restoration. The incoming president Hakainde Hichilema would have to up his game to restore the country’s economy. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest producer of copper worth billions of dollars, but yet the majority of the population lives below $2 a day. Although the country is Africa’s second-largest producer of copper, the copper-rich nation owes China over $3 billion and a total of $12 billion in external debts. The presence of China is visible on the continent of Africa, but for Zambia, it’s more than that. Today, one-third of Zambia’s national debt is coming from China.

“It hurts to see citizens go to bed without food in such a country,” he explained, deploring the underutilised potential of natural resources in Zambia, Africa’s second copper producer.

“Assets worth billions of dollars are yielding nothing… to better our lives,” said Hakainde Hichilema.

President Edgar Lungu, a one-term Zambian president has this to say today:

“Countrymen, women and the youth,

Six years ago, you entrusted me to lead you on a
Journey to build our country after the death of
His excellency, President Michael Sata.

This show of trust that I lead you in January, 2015 was unexpected and I accepted it with humility and gratefulness.

In 2016, you, the Zambian people, decided yet again to give me a fresh mandate for Five years.

I received that show of support with great honour.

I want to thank you, the Zambian people, for giving me such a great opportunity to be your president.

I will forever cherish and appreciate that authority you vested in me.

Countrymen, women and the youth
All I ever wanted was to serve my country to the best of my abilities, and together with you, we indeed scored in many areas.

Of course, there were challenges on the way, but what I appreciated most was your support during the tough times.

Countrymen, women and the youth
We held our general elections on Thursday, 12th
August, 2021, and the electoral commission of
Zambia have released the final election results.
Countrymen, women and the youth based on the revelation of the ecz final results, I will comply with the constitutional provisions for a peaceful transition of power.

I would, therefore, like to congratulate my brother, the president-elect, His Excellency, Mr Hakainde Hichilema for becoming the 7th republican president.

Countrymen,women and the youth
Let me also congratulate all those who participated in this general election and won at various levels. To those who did not, there is always another time.

Lastly, I would like to thank all those who voted for my party, the Patriot Front and I. To you I say, your vote was not in vain, please continue supporting us.

Countrymen, women and the youth
I wish you well and may the good Lord bless our
Republic, Zambia.

I thank you.”

President Edgar Lungu to the people of Zambia