Kinshasa, September 1st, 2026 (CPA).- The Zambian president has indicated on Tuesday, during his swearing-in ceremony, to place his country on a path of growth and opportunities for the entire population, calling on the people to unite, the international media have informed. “Having accomplished the bulk of the work during our first term, the next five years will be dedicated to growth, expansion, opportunities and prosperity for our entire population,” has declared Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia.
“There is still much to be done. And that is precisely the purpose of this term of office. One Zambia, One Nation. Whatever our political choices, we remain one people, with a shared destiny,” he has added. Indeed, several African heads of State have travelled to the event, namely William Ruto of Kenya, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia. According to the World Bank, more than 70% of Zambia’s 22 million inhabitants live on less than three dollars a day. Zambia has returned to economic growth under his administration, which began in 2021, with market-friendly reforms that have brought inflation under control.
He has also abolished the death penalty and made primary and secondary education free. However, his critics argue that this growth has not yet benefited the poorest sections of society. The Zambian president has won 60% of the vote, followed by the former minister Brian Mundubile with 38%, according to the official results. As a reminder, the Zambian president and leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema, has voted on August 13th, 2026, in Lusaka, where the ballot has been marred by allegations of intimidation and bias, whilst his main opponent is in prison, charged with treason.