Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has taken the oath of office for a second term following a disputed presidential election that has been overshadowed by the treason charges against his main challenger.
Hichilema was sworn in on Tuesday at a ceremony attended by several African leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Thousands of supporters of Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND), dressed largely in the party’s red colours, gathered at Lusaka Stadium for the inauguration.
Official results from the August 13 election showed Hichilema winning 60 percent of the vote, while opposition candidate Brian Mundubile secured 38 percent.
Mundubile rejected the outcome, alleging that the election was compromised and pledging to contest the result in court. However, Zambian authorities shut the courts on August 24, the deadline for filing presidential election petitions, citing security concerns.
Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, were subsequently detained by police over allegations linked to treason and were formally charged with the offence on Saturday.
The treason case has added further tension to an already contentious post-election period.
Hichilema, a former businessman, has received praise for his handling of Zambia’s economy during his first term, which began in 2021, particularly as the copper-producing nation pursued an economic recovery.
He has pledged to consolidate the gains recorded during his first five years in office and continue implementing policies aimed at strengthening the country’s economy.
