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The Freedom of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) party congratulated Zambians for expressing their will in the Zambian elections in which opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has emerged as the winner in August 12 presidential plebiscite, beating incumbent President Edgar Lungu. The party encourages political parties to draw lessons from the elections in the neighbouring country.
On 15 August 2021, Hichilema commented on microblogging site Twitter that victory was certain for his party but encouraged his supporters to exercise calm and restraint ahead of the announcement of the final election results.
“With victory in sight, I’d like to ask for calm from our members and supporters. We voted for change for a better Zambia that’s free from violence and discrimination. Let us be the change we voted for and embrace the spirit of Ubuntu to love and live together harmoniously,” Hichilema said.
FORUS urged the political protagonists to learn from Hichilema that elections are only a phase that should not compromise peace and harmony. In any elections, FORUS said there are bound to be losers and winners and contestants, notwithstanding the fact that as a party it is not against raising disputations on stolen elections. They said if that happens, contestants should take necessary recourse and respect the outcome from arbiters.
In Zambia, the opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema won the Zambian presidential election at the sixth attempt, ending incumbent Edgar Lungu’s bid for a third term.
“We applaud President Lungu’s quick move to concede defeat. This should be a lesson to the ruling party that should the opposition win future elections, it should concede defeat so as to foster democracy. Events after the Zimbabwean presidential elections of 2008 that were followed by a bloody Presidential run-off come into mind.
“As FORUS, we encourage political parties to close that chapter forever and encourage dialogue for peaceful co-existence among political parties and all citizens in general so that Zimbabwe will achieve its 2030 Vision.”
Lovemore Madhuku, the leader of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), a proponent of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) sent a congratulatory message to Hichilema.
“Congratulations to Hakainde Hichilema for being elected resoundingly as President of Zambia. It is an inspirational victory. All the best Mr. President. We have followed your long history in opposition and have drawn a great deal of lessons. Your victory deepens democracy in Africa,” Madhuku said.
Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the MDC Alliance also congratulated Hichilema.
He said: “I’m so humbled and excited to have received a call and personally congratulated my brother and President-elect His Excellency H. Hichilema. Join me to congratulate the people of Zambia who continue to inspire us all. We are next. Our turn as Zimbabwe is coming. We won’t disappoint! God is faithful!”