Kinshasa, August 25th, 2021 (CPA) – President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, in his capacity as current President of the African Union and Deputy President of SADC, promised on Tuesday at the National heroes stadium in Lusaka in Zambia, in his speech for the occasion of the inauguration of its new elected President, Hakainde Hichilema, the support of AU as well as the consolidation of bilateral relations and good neighborliness.
The Congolese Head of State also said, on behalf of his peers, all the pride of the African continent in this country for having led, successfully and in peace, a third power transition since the return of Zambia, three decades ago, to the multiparty system.
Previously, he paid tribute to the hero of Zambian independence, Kenneth Kaunda, who died a month before the last ballot, and congratulated the Zambian people for their peaceful success in the alternation, thanks to free, democratic and transparent elections.
Priority actions of the new president
Hakainde Hichilema, 59-year-old former opponent and powerful Zambian businessman, promised in his inaugural address to immediately get to work to turn his country’s economy around and « lift his compatriots out of poverty », ensuring that the entire population of the country has at least three decent meals a day, reassuring young people to ensure that they are offered the long-awaited employment opportunities.
The new Zambian Head of State has unveiled, among the main lines of his program of action, the revival of the national economy, the increase of « the control of the Zambians over the minerals which abound in the subsoil of the country », through measures to facilitate local ownership and increased participation of the latter in the sector.
« We will strive to increase the production of copper and other minerals so that Zambia can regain its place among the major mining countries in Africa », he said.
Zambia is the second African copper producer, behind DRC. The country is also home to other mineral resources such as gold, nickel, manganese and iron, it is recalled.
The new president and the vice-president of the republic, Mutale Nalumango, were sworn in before the Constitutional Court, in the presence of the outgoing president, Edgard Lungu, defeated in the presidential election of August 12th, with a difference of more than a million votes.
Several heads of state and government of SADC attended the inauguration ceremony of the 7th President of Zambia, in a stadium invaded by 60,000 people.
They are Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Filipe Nyusi (Mozambique), Hage Geingob (Namibia) and Samia Suhulu Hassan (Tanzania). ACP /