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Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema | |
---|---|
![]() Hichilema in 2021 | |
7th President of Zambia | |
Assumed office 24 August 2021 | |
Vice President | Mutale Nalumango |
Preceded by | Edgar Lungu |
Personal details | |
Born | Hachipona, Northern Rhodesia, Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Monze District, Zambia) | 4 June 1962
Political party | United Party for National Development |
Spouse(s) | Mutinta Hichilema |
Children | 3 |
Education | University of Zambia (BA) University of Birmingham (MBA) |
Hakainde Hichilema (born 4 June 1962) is a Zambian businessman and politician who has served as President of Zambia since 24 August 2021.[1] After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with over 59% of the vote.[2] He has led the United Party for National Development since 2006.
Prior to his election, Hichilema was a major opponent of Edgar Lungu, the President of Zambia from 2015 to 2021. On 11 April 2017, Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason, a move that was seen as an illegitimate act by Lungu to silence a political rival. The arrest and charge were widely condemned, with protests held in Zambia and abroad, demanding Hichilema's release and condemning the increasing authoritarianism of Lungu's regime. Hichilema was released from prison on 16 August 2017, and the charge of treason was dropped.
Early life and career
Hichilema was born in a village in Monze District in present-day Zambia. He received a scholarship to study at the University of Zambia and graduated in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration. He thereafter pursued an MBA in Finance and Business Strategy at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.[3]
He served as the chief executive officer of both Coopers and Lybrand Zambia (1994–1998) and Grant Thornton Zambia (1998–2006).[4]
Political career
Hichilema is a member of the opposition United Party for National Development, a liberal political party. Following the death of Anderson Mazoka in 2006, he was elected as the party's new President. He also served as the leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), an alliance of three opposition political parties.
In the 2006 election, Hichilema was the candidate of the UDA and ran against incumbent president Levy Mwanawasa of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy and Patriotic Front candidate Michael Sata. He received the endorsement of former President Kenneth Kaunda. The election was held on 28 September 2006 and Hichilema took third place with about 25% of the vote.
Hichilema ran as the UPND candidate in the 2008 election, which was called following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa.[5] He came 3rd with 19.7% of the vote. In June 2009, Hichilema's party, the UPND, formed a pact with Michael Sata's Patriotic Front (PF) to contest the 2011 election together. However, indecision on the pact candidate, deep mistrust and accusations of tribalism from both sides resulted in the collapse of the pact in March 2011.[6]
He was one of the two main candidates in the January 2015 presidential election, which he lost by a narrow margin of 27,757 votes (1.66%) against the ruling party's candidate, Edgar Lungu. Hichilema denounced the election as a sham and urged his supporters to remain calm.[7][8] He again faced Lungu as the main opposition candidate in the August 2016 presidential election, and was again narrowly defeated.[9]
In April 2017, he was arrested on suspicion of treason and charged with attempting to overthrow the government.[10] He was in prison for four months before being given a nolle prosequi.[11][12]
Presidency
Hichilema ran for President for a sixth time in the election held on 12 August 2021. The electoral commission chairman Esau Chulu declared that he had won the election in the early hours of 16 August.[1][2]
Arrest and treason charge
Hichilema was arrested on 11 April 2017. On the night of 11 April 2017 the Zambian Police broke into Hichilema's compound to arrest the country's main opposition leader, ordered by President Edgar Lungu’s government[13][14][15] and charged with treason after he was accused of endangering the president's life after his motorcade allegedly refused to give way to the one transporting Lungu,[16] a case which many viewed as a minor traffic offence[17][18] and not one that could amount to treason. Hichilema strongly denied the charge, which carries a maximum sentence of death penalty.[19]
The police used excessive force[20] to enter Hichilema's residence damaging his home and property, beat up all his workers, stole money, jewellery, as well as underwear, shoes, speakers, blankets, carpets and food from the kitchen and defecated on Hichilema's bed.[21][22]
Teargas canisters were thrown inside Hichilema's home[23] gassing Hichilema, his asthmatic wife, and his children, who collapsed several times due to inhaling the gas.[21]
Time in jail
Hichilema said in an interview on HARDtalk that during his time in prison he was held in solitary confinement for eight days without food, water, light or visitation, was tortured by having his penis pepper sprayed, and accused president Lungu of having tried to kill him.[24]
His wife, Mutinta, was turned away by prison officials when she took food for him.
Hichilema's arrest was the subject of the episode of Al Jazeera's The Stream TV program titled Is Zambia's Democracy in Danger[25] which aired on 30 May 2017.
Zambia's first president Kenneth Kaunda was turned away by prison officials when he visited Hichilema in Prison.[26]
Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Democratic Alliance (South Africa) was also turned away by Zambia Police when he came to Zambia to attend Hichilema's court appearance. He was not allowed to disembark from the plane, had his phone confiscated and was roughed up.[27] This prompted South Africa's Foreign Ministry to summon Zambia's Ambassador to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba to explain the actions of the Zambian regime.
Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo visited Hichilema in prison.[28]
Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland visited Hichilema in prison twice.[29]
State of emergency
While Hichilema was in jail, President Lungu imposed a state of emergency,[30] a move critics saw as an effort to tighten his grip on power.[31]
Condemnation and protests
Hichilema's arrest was widely condemned. The United States,[32] the European Union[33] and the European Parliament[34] denounced the arrest. The Africa Liberal Network condemned the arrest as an attempt by President Lungu to silence dissent and opposition.[35] The Catholic bishops strongly condemned the arrest and said Zambia had become a dictatorship under President Edgar Lungu.[36] Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa's EFF party, accused Zambia's president Edgar Lungu of apartheid style repression for detaining Hichilema on treason charges[14] and called president Lungu a “coward”.[37] Mmusi Maimane, the leader of South Africa's DA party, who was denied entry into Zambia to visit Hichilema in Jail[27] (stopped from exiting the plane at Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport) strongly denounced the trumped up charges against Hichilema.[38]
Protests broke out in Zambia, South Africa[39] and the United Kingdom[40] demanding the release of Hichilema and condemning Edgar Lungu's authoritarian rule and deteriorating human rights in Zambia.
Release from prison
Celebrations took place throughout Zambia when Hichilema was released from prison on 16 August 2017 and scores of people lined up the roads of Lusaka to have a glimpse of Hichilema as his motorcade left prison.[41]
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, congratulated the Zambian authorities for dropping the treason charges against Hichilema and releasing him from prison.[42]
Thanksgiving prayers were held to celebrate Hichilema's release from jail at the Cathedral of Holy Cross in Lusaka on 29 August 2017 and Hichilema was present at the event which drew large crowds and was aired live on television. The event was originally scheduled to take place the previous week on 24 August but was blocked by heavily armed state police who sealed off the venue.
Hichilema became more popular after his release and was awarded the Africa Freedom Award in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was invited to speak at Catham House in London and was also invited to speak in South Africa by Democratic Alliance Members of Parliament.[43]
A book about Hichilema's time in prison called Hakainde Hichilema's Prison Diary[44] was released on 29 September 2017 by journalist Fredrick Misebezi.[26] Hichilema endorsed the book and urged the public to read it.[45]
Police warning and caution in 2020
On 23 December 2020, Hichilema received a warning and caution at the Zambian Police Headquarters in Lusaka for an alleged offence of "conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 313 of the Penal Code, Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia", relating to the purchase of a property in 2004.[46] As Hichilema arrived for questioning, police clashed with UPND supporters. In an attempt to disperse the crowd, police reportedly shot dead a State Prosecutor and a UPND supporter.[47]
Awards
Hichilema was conferred with the Africa Freedom Award by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom on 27 October 2017 at an event held in Johannesburg, South Africa.[48]
Interviews
Hichilema was featured on the BBC television program HARDtalk on 1 November 2017 and was interviewed by Stephen Sackur.[49] He was the first Zambian opposition political leader to be hosted on HARDtalk and the second Zambian politician featured after former President Levy Mwanawasa.
On 17 December 2017, Hichilema featured on ZNBC's Sunday Interview, making him the first opposition political leader to be hosted on that program.[50] This was after management at ZNBC had granted a request by the UPND through its spokesman, Charles Kakoma, who had written to ZNBC Director General Richard Mwanza requesting that Mr. Hichilema is featured on the Sunday Interview on 17 December.[51][52] The program was prerecorded on a Thursday before at 10:30 and was aired on Sunday evening.[53][51]
Speeches
Hichilema was invited to speak at The Royal Institute of International Affairs, commonly known as Chatham House, on 31 October 2017.[54] He was the first Zambian to speak at Chatham House.
Personal life
Hichilema is married to Mutinta and has three children.[4] He is a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church[55][56] and on 12 December 2020, he and his wife got invested as Master Guides in Lusaka.[56] Hichilema is a millionaire and the second-largest cattle rancher in Zambia.[57]
In December 2014, he denied being a Freemason and labelled people accusing him as malicious.[58] He also sued Bishop Edward Chomba of the Orthodox Church for defamation after the former called him a Satanist and a Freemason.[59]
Hichilema was named in the Panama Papers, with the leak stating that he was the director of Bermuda-based company AfNat Resources Ltd from March to August 2006. The company engaged in nickel exploration in Zambia and other African countries. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, "the company was listed on London’s alternative investment market until 2010 when it was purchased by Canadian mining company Axmin for about $14 million."[60][61]
See also
References
- ^ Jump up to: a b Foundation, Thomson Reuters. "Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema wins presidential election". news.trust.org. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Mfula, Chris (16 August 2021). "Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema wins landslide in presidential election". Reuters. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "Biography: Hakainde Hichilema". www.hh-zambia.com. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "HH's curriculum vitae". Lusaka Times. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "Zambia to hold presidential by-election on Oct.30", Xinhua, 10 September 2008.
- ^ "Opposition alliance in Zambia collapse as UPND pulls out", Newstime Africa, 11 March 2011.
- ^ "Zambia opposition cries foul as Lungu wins presidential election". The Daily Telegraph. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ Hichilema, Hakainde (24 January 2015). "Edgar Lungu steals election". hh-zambia.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Zambia's President Edgar Lungu declared election winner". BBC News. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ Mfula, Chris (18 April 2017). "Zambian opposition leader charged with trying to overthrow government". Reuters. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ "Zambia : HH walks to freedom as state enters nolle prosequi in the treason case".
- ^ "DPP drops HH case – Zambia Daily Mail".
- ^ Catholic Bishops condemn HH arrest, say Zambia is now a dictatorship Lusaka Times
- ^ Jump up to: a b Malema compares Zambia leader to apartheid rulers News24
- ^ Mr Lungu, meanwhile, faces accusations of growing authoritarianism. BBC News
- ^ Mr Hichilema was arrested in April, accused of endangering the president's life after his motorcade allegedly refused to give way to the one transporting Mr Lungu. BBC News. 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Hakainde Hichilema's treason trial puts Zambia at crossroads". BBC News. 24 May 2017.
- ^ The day road rage led to a treason charge in Zambia, as democracy falters in Africa. LA Times
- ^ He and his aides "strongly" denied the charge, which carries a sentence of at least 15 years. Those found guilty can also be sentenced to death. BBC News. 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Zambia : Police used excessive force to arrest HH and five others-Amnesty International".
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Cops Rob Millions Of Kwacha From Hichilema's Residence In Midnight Raid". Zambia Reports. 12 April 2017.
- ^ POLICE STEAL FOOD FROM HICHILEMA'S HOUSE Zambian Observer
- ^ "Zambia police detain opposition leader Hichilema over 'treason'". BBC News. 11 April 2017.
- ^ "BBC World News - HARDtalk, Hakainde Hichilema". BBC.
- ^ [stream.aljazeera.com/story/201705301734-0025446]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The Zambian Observer - Latest News from Zambia". 29 February 2016.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Maimane prevented from entering Zambia | eNCA". www.enca.com.
- ^ "Former Nigerian President Obasanjo goes to visit HH in prison – Mwebantu".
- ^ Hydrant (http://www.hydrant.co.uk), Site designed and built by (7 August 2017). "Secretary-General meets Zambian president and opposition leader". The Commonwealth.
- ^ Dahir, Abdi Latif. "One of Africa's most stable democracies just declared a state of emergency". Quartz.
- ^ Zambian President Edgar Lungu this month imposed a state of emergency, a move critics see as an effort to tighten his grip on power News24
- ^ USA denounces brutal arrest of Hichilema Zambian Watchdog
- ^ "US, EU Condemn Hichilema Arrest, Treason Charge". Zambia Reports. 14 April 2017.
- ^ "Human rights: H. Hichilema in Zambia, Dr Gudina in Ethiopia, South Sudan | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 18 May 2017.
- ^ "Zambia : HH's arrest is unacceptable- Africa Liberal Network".
- ^ "Zambia : Catholic Bishops condemn HH arrest, say Zambia is now a dictatorship".
- ^ "Lungu, you are a coward. Allow the opposition to oppose you. If you are a true leader, you will defeat them properly not through arrest," Malema said News24
- ^ Maimane had strongly denounced the trumped up charges against Hichilema, and had condemned the African National Congress government for not yet taking a stand against his treason charges. eNCA
- ^ "Pockets of Protesters Send "Release HH" Message at Global Event in Durban". 4 May 2017.
- ^ "Zambians in UK protest HH persecution". 12 May 2017.
- ^ Zambia: Hakainde Hichilema released from jail to jubilant reception, more popular than ever Daily Maverick
- ^ "Statement By Kofi Annan Following The Release Of Hakainde Hichilema". Modern Ghana.
- ^ "HH Addresses Lawmakers in South Africa | MUVI Television | First in News and Entertainment".
- ^ Misebezi, Fredrick (19 March 2018). Hakainde Hichilema's Prison Diary: Events of the day in and outside Prison. ISBN 978-1980573630.
- ^ "Zambia : Book on HH's 127 day stay in jail out".
- ^ "Zambia : HH warned and cautioned". LusakaTimes.com. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Zambia : Police reportedly shoot dead State Prosecutor and UPND supporter in attempt to disperse crowds". LusakaTimes.com. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "HH conferred with Africa Freedom Award". zambia24.com. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Hakainde Hichilema, HARDtalk - BBC World News". BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Sunday interview: it was a very bad night for Grevazio". zambianobserver.com. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "ZNBC grants HH Sunday Interview slot". themastonline.com. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "HH writes ZNBC to feature on Sunday Interview". lusakatimes.com. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "ZNBC grants HH Sunday Interview request". lusakatimes.com. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "Political Opposition and Policy Alternatives in Zambia". Chatham House. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "HH: I am not a Masonist, I am Christian and a church elder at SDA". . 24 December 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Division, Noel Sibanda, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean. "Adventist Master Guide Hakainde Hichilema Is the New President of Zambia". Adventist News Network. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ Laing, Aislinn (19 January 2015). "Africa needs leaders to run countries like CEOs, Zambia's opposition leader says". The Daily Telegraph. Ndola. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "HH: I am an Adventist, I am a Christian, I don't know what Freemasonry is". . 19 December 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "HH sues Bishop Chomba for calling him a Satanist and Freemason". Lusaka Times. 25 December 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "Hakainde Sammy Hichilema | ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database". Offshore Leaks Database. International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ "UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema named in Paradise Papers". Lusaka Times. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
External links
- Hakainde Hichilema on Facebook
- Hakainde Hichilema on Twitter
- A New Journey for Zambia on YouTube
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Zambian economists
- Zambian businesspeople
- Hakainde Hichilema
- United Party for National Development politicians
- University of Zambia alumni
- Alumni of the University of Birmingham
- Zambian Seventh-day Adventists
- Coopers and Lybrand people
- Grant Thornton people
- People from Monze District
- People named in the Paradise Papers
- Presidents of Zambia