SADC leaders stay silent as world congratulates Hichilema on disputed win

9 Views SA President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) Zim President Emmerson Mnangagwa (L)A number world leaders have sent messages of congratulations to President-elect Hakainde Hichilema following his disputed victory in the just ended presidential polls, however what is striking is how Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have largely remained silent up to now. Apparently, this […]

9 Views

SA President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) Zim President Emmerson Mnangagwa (L)A number world leaders have sent messages of congratulations to President-elect Hakainde Hichilema following his disputed victory in the just ended presidential polls, however what is striking is how Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have largely remained silent up to now.

Apparently, this is being read with different lenses with some political watchers giving conflicting prognosis. Others saying such leaders may not want to be associated with the endorsement of disputed polls.

Yet others are saying it is too early to make such a conclusion arguing that there is no timeframe in which to congratulate a leader after winning polls.

Some of the SADC leaders who are yet to congratulate Hichilema include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Botswana President Duma Boko, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President of Malawi Peter Mutharika among others.

Renowned Zimbabwean political analyst Elder Mabhunu says though SADC leaders should have been the first to congratulate Hichilema, there is no deadline in which leaders should congratulate their counterparts.

He adds that the messages will definitely come.

“There is nothing much to write home about here. There is no timeframe in which to congratulate a leader after winning polls.

“The messages will definitely come,” he says.

Meanwhile, some of the world leaders who have congratulated President-elect Hichilema include Burundi’s President and African Union Chairperson, Evariste Ndaishimiye, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Kenyan President William Ruto, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamd Al Thanim.

Hichilema won the election with a landslide, however his main challenger Brian Mundubile has rejected the results, vowed to mount a legal challenge.

Mundubile said the results did not mirror the will of the Zambian people.

Below is one of his statements:

Fellow Zambians,

I am calling upon the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to immediately clarify the handling and custody of GEN 20 forms used in the presidential electoral process.

The integrity of our presidential election is at stake following information alleging that GEN 20 forms were collected from districts and may have been subjected to interference or alteration.

The ECZ must explain who authorised the collection of these GEN 20 forms and under which provision of the law the documents were moved.

The original GEN 20 forms must be preserved because they are critical to transparency, verification and any lawful challenge to discrepancies in the presidential results.

The ECZ must also provide a transparent explanation regarding the suspension of the announcement of results, what happened during that period, which officials had access to election materials, and whether any GEN 20 forms were moved.

I further demand clarification on allegations that intelligence or military officers were involved in collecting GEN 20 forms from town clerks. The ECZ must state clearly whether any military or intelligence personnel collected or had access to these forms.

There are also allegations that officials in Southern Province were pressured to modify figures, with some of the alleged communication said to have been made through local government structures. Similar allegations have been raised regarding officials in North-Western Province, who were allegedly directed to alter figures appearing on GEN 20 forms.

These allegations require urgent and independent investigation. We must protect the integrity of the electoral record and ensure that no election material is tampered with, altered, removed or destroyed.

All original GEN 20 forms and other election documents capable of establishing a clear audit trail must be preserved.

These remain allegations requiring urgent independent investigations. I call upon the ECZ, law enforcement agencies and all other stakeholders to take immediate steps to safeguard the integrity of the electoral record.

The people of Zambia deserve nothing less than a transparent, verifiable and credible presidential electoral process.

Brian Muntayalwa Mundubile