Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah joined regional Heads of State and Government and other international dignitaries in Lusaka, Zambia, on Tuesday for the inauguration of President Hakainde Hichilema, who was sworn in for his second five-year term alongside Vice President Mutale Nalumango.
Hichilema took the Oath of Office before Chief Justice Mumba Malila at National Heroes Stadium, where thousands of Zambians gathered to witness the ceremony.
Nandi-Ndaitwah attended the inauguration alongside the presidents of Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana, while China was represented by a senior government official. The United States, United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, Malawi and Eswatini were among other countries that sent high-ranking representatives.
Photos: Namibian Presidency
The ceremony included a presidential guard of honour, the national anthem, a fly-past and a 21-gun salute.
Hichilema, who secured a second term in the presidential election, thanked Zambians for renewing his mandate and pledged to serve as a “servant president for all the people of Zambia”.
He said his administration would shift its focus from stabilising the economy to accelerating growth and expanding opportunities.
“We are moving from stabilisation to growth,” Hichilema said.
“Having done the heavy lifting in our first term, the next five years is all about growth, expansion, opportunity and prosperity for all our people.”
He acknowledged that challenges such as the cost of living remained and said his administration would focus on ensuring that economic opportunities were accessible to citizens regardless of their background.
Hichilema also called for political tolerance, peace and national unity following an election that was marked by political tensions and disputes over the outcome.
“Political differences are an inevitable part of a democracy, but the pursuit of political power must never come at the expense of peace, security and stability in our country,” he said.
He urged political opponents and their supporters to view one another as competitors rather than enemies.
“To our political competitors and their supporters, we say: You remain an important part of our democracy, and we respect your choices. We disagree as political competitors, not as enemies,” Hichilema said.
He said the election should now be put behind the country as Zambia focuses on its future.
“The elections now behind us, the country before us belongs to us all. The campaign is over, but the work of building Zambia continues,” he said.
Hichilema also extended an invitation to those who opposed him to contribute to the country’s development, saying his administration would listen to good ideas and constructive criticism.
“We extend our hand to those who opposed us, not as a gesture of political convenience, but as an expression of our conviction that this republic belongs equally to all of us,” he said.
On the economy, Hichilema pledged to accelerate infrastructure development and industrial transformation while reforming institutions that have hindered economic growth.
He also highlighted mining, agriculture and tourism as key sectors for expansion and diversification.
The President emphasised the importance of national unity and reiterated the country’s longstanding motto of “One Zambia, One Nation”.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who was among the African leaders attending the ceremony, also spoke about unity and peaceful political competition.
For Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s attendance highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship between Namibia and Zambia and the two countries’ continued commitment to regional cooperation.
