Chakwera to attend Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration as Zambia’s sixth President
President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is scheduled to travel to Lusaka, Zambia, to attend the inauguration of Hakainde Hichilema as Zambia’s seventh President.
A statement from Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation says President Chakwera will leave for Lusaka, Zambia, on Tuesday next week to attend the inauguration of the President-Elect of the Republic of Zambia.
“More details of His Excellency the President’s trip will be announced later,” reads the statement issued a short while ago.
Hichilema – who represented the United Party for National Development (UPND) in last week’s general elections – beat the incumbent President Edgar Chagwa Lungu of the Patriotic Front.
Lungu has served as President of Africa’s leading copper producing nation for six years.
He took over from late President Michael Sata, who died in office in 2015.
In 2016, Hakainde Hichilema – or HH as he is popularly and fondly called by his supporters in Zambia – was arrested and jailed for treason by the Lungu administration after he disputed the election of the latter to the presidency.
This was the sixth attempt by Hichilema to seek voters’ authorisation to occupy the State House.
Lungu has grudgingly accepted defeat and has committed to ensuring smooth transition of power in Zambia.
Why can’t we for once send a VP. Seems all international trips are for Laz. Can’t we learn. Even the SADC meeting out of 16 countries only 7 sent presidents.
Being SADC chair and Zambia membership, it’s very important that he attends.
Ndiwedi sikusinja ndaonanso, koma mukanangomaliza mainawo kuti ndinunso a gwenembe as is evidenced in your thinking capabilities.
Useless dundahead, what do you think the president and or the Vice President will personally benefiting from this trip?……..allowance mentality ikuphani a Malawi.
The president’s attendance is about diplomacy, building long lasting relationships with our closest neighbors……idiots!
Are you offended?
We have our own home-bred Christopher Columbus or Vasco Da Gama.
Whats wrong for him to attend the inauguration?Some of you Malawians are just opposing everything.That ceremony is for the Presidency not Vice and he can only send someone if he is busy or attending some other issues.Lets not be against everything that shows we have got too much jealous in our heads.He is entitled to attend the inaugurations.
How many presidents attended his inauguration? There is no such thing as entitlement. Development is a mindset. What value does an inauguration bring? Did you know that Magufuli in 6 years as president only travelled outside TZ 8 times. But in those years, Tanzani moved from a low income country to a middle income country. A presidents loyalty and service is to his countrymen first. Sending a representative saves a lot of money thats why most countries do that. The fact that you are saying the ceremony is for the presidency shows how you have no idea what an inauguration… Read more »
very unfortunate
Well, we will need to get used to this. Remember that we now chair the SADC. The president will have to attend more of these functions. Besides, our history is such that a Malawi president can’t fail to attend such critical functions in Zambia or Zimbabwe or South Africa “if invited.” Not even Tanzania. We need them perhaps more than they needs us. Atigwira ufititu – if you know what such expression means kkkkkk!
Kent