By: Ollus Ndomu
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has raised the leadership bar through his national unity agenda as his reaching out to former President Edgar Lungu over the State Funeral of the country’s fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda, continues to attract local and regional praise.
From March 11 to 18, 2022, the 18 million-man Southern African country had been mourning former President Rupiah Banda who succumbed to colon cancer, but President Hichilema used the departed statesman’s funeral to purify Zambia of political and ethnic divisions.
Speaking Tuesday after visiting the house of mourning in the capital, Lusaka, Hichilema confirmed reaching out his to once number one political enemy, former President Lungu:
“And during our address to the press, we confirmed that we had a phone conversation with our country’s former President, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and reminded each other about how our late President, His Excellency, President Banda played a critical role in the 2021 August elections.”
“President Banda may be gone but his desire of a united and prosperous Zambia will live on and as such, we appeal to the Nation to mourn him with dignity irrespective of social and political affiliation,” said Hichilema in a statement.
Fast forward, Hichilema and Lungu shared a seat during the Thursday State Funeral and Friday burial ceremony to the joy of several thousands of Zambian social media users who in the first place did not think the current president would show love to his predecessor, a man who promised to jail him [Hichilema] in a situation where he retained power.
In his Friday Facebook statement, opposition Economic and Equity Party President Chilufya Tayali urged all Zambians to acknowledge Hichilema’s leadership magnanimity, criticizing the remnant Lungu supporters who took to social media downplaying the acts of unity by the sitting President:
“We now have such pictures of HH [Hichilema] and ECL [Lungu] and some people want to take it as if it is nothing, because it is part of the protocol, #Hell_No! Recognise the efforts and magnanimity of President HH.”
“Mind you it is also protocol to invite all recognised political parties’ Presidents (including EEP PRESIDENT CHILUFYA TAYALI), but what did the ECL regime do?” Tayali asked.
The opposition leader further said the Lungu government divided the country, making it difficult for the opposition to attend state functions.
“ECL and his govt made the environment hostile for HH to attend such functions, though HH made it worse with his pride. After all is said and done, we need to appreciate President Hichilema and his New Dawn government for uniting our nation by graciously and magnanimously embracing ECL and we should pray that this gesture continues.”
Botswana’s former President Ian Khama also praised President Hichilema, describing him as the best man to lead Zambia at a time when the country was economically troubled and politically bleeding.
A recent poll conducted by Africaworld Reports showed that Hichilema’s leadership approval ratings had gone up by 6% after pictures of him and Lungu emerged on social media.
