Ramaphosa absent from Hichilema’s second inauguration

11 Views South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was among several prominent African leaders who did not attend President Hakainde Hichilema’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday at National Heroes Stadium. Hichilema began his second five-year term before thousands of Zambians, who thronged the 60,000-seater stadium. According to official coverage, representatives from Beijing and Washington attended. The register, […]

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was among several prominent African leaders who did not attend President Hakainde Hichilema’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday at National Heroes Stadium.

Hichilema began his second five-year term before thousands of Zambians, who thronged the 60,000-seater stadium.

According to official coverage, representatives from Beijing and Washington attended. The register, however, did not list Ramaphosa among the heads of state in attendance.

Other leaders whose presence was not recorded at the Lusaka inauguration include: President Peter Mutharika of Malawi, President Daniel Chapo of Mozambique, President João Lourenço of Angola, and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.

Kenyan President William Ruto delivered the keynote address, while Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan were also among regional leaders present.

Mnangagwa used his remarks to congratulate Hichilema and call for stronger regional trade and solidarity within SADC. Ruto urged African leaders to prioritize national unity and to focus on turning “political freedom into economic freedom.”

The absence of several SADC leaders comes amid pre-inauguration controversy regarding the August 13 election result, disputed by Hichilema’s main challenger Brian Mundubile.

Opposition figures had asked the African Union and regional bodies to intervene and to delay the Sept 1 inauguration pending court processes.

The government said the day would proceed and was declared a public holiday in Zambia, with VIP facilities at Heroes Stadium upgraded ahead of the ceremony.

Hichilema was declared winner on August 18. The 7-day window to file a petition closed with all courts in the country shut over what the government called security concerns.

Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu were later arrested and charged with treason after being surrendered to the State by the United Nations, where they had sought refuge citing safety issues.

This came after a military-led operation at Mundubile’s residence in the capital, in which former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot dead.

After being charged with treason under Section 43 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, the duo, alongside 16 other accused persons, were transferred to Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe.

Treason is a serious offence that carries a sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.

The accused persons have not yet appeared before court, where the State will be required to present evidence in support of the allegations against them.

While the duo spend their third day at Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility, Hichilema has today been sworn in as President of Zambia following the August 13 polls that saw the Electoral Commission of Zambia declare him winner of the general election.