16 Aug 2021

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has congratulated Mr Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), for winning Zambia’s presidential election.

He was speaking at the Ordinary SADC Organ Trioka Summit in Malawi yesterday.

 “On behalf of the SADC region, I wish to congratulate the people of Zambia for consolidating democracy in their country and the region through peaceful elections. Notwithstanding, there were reported isolated and sporadic acts of violence that are regrettable,” added President Masisi, who is also chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

He urged stakeholders to maintain peace as the rest of the general election results were being finalised and announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and to channel any electoral disputes through the appropriate legal platforms.

 

SADC, President Masisi said, remained seized with developments in Zambia and engaged key stakeholders throughout the process, adding that despite pressure from the highly competitive elections, political stakeholders were generally satisfied that the ECZ was able to discharge its functions professionally. ENDS