Zambia: Prez-Elect Hichilema congratulates voters: Full text

It is with great honour, humility and gratitude that I stand before you today to say change is here. We have prevailed. Zambia has prevailed.

President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema, Zambia 

This victory does not belong to me, but to the men and women of Zambia. You came out in large numbers, with great energy and passion, and you sent a clear and resounding message that has reverberated around the world. It is time for change.

And through this message, you have tasked HH, Mutale Nalumango and the UPND Alliance with forming your next government, and delivering this change.

I thank you for your support. I pray we will be worthy of your trust.

Brothers and sisters, it is indeed a new day in Zambia. A new beginning for us all.

With the election behind us, let us come together as Zambians. One Zambia. One Nation.

To those who voted for other candidates, we extent our hand, in friendship and respect. Though today you may be disappointed, I embrace you as your brother and as your servant.

I will be a President of all Zambians, of those that voted for me and of those that did not. We will govern without fear or favour, without preference for any group over another. Indeed, the values of inclusivity, equality and diversity will be at the core of our administration.

Now is the time to move forward, beyond the partisanship of the election period towards a more prosperous and more united future. Let us put the past behind us, for it is what we do now, in the present, that will define our future.

To our competitors, we thank you for your participation in these elections. We are grateful for your gracious concessions, and for your acknowledgment of our victory. To you we pledge to foster a better democracy where your voices and your democratic rights are freely exercised.

We invite you to work together with us, as we build a better Zambia, together.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank my running mate Ms. Mutale Nalumango, all the members of the UPND Alliance, our candidates, our campaign teams and well-wishers who worked tirelessly on the front lines and behind the scenes. We would not be here today without your hard work and dedication.

I thank my beloved wife Mutinta, who has always been by my side through thick and thin. You will make an incredible First Lady. To my children and the rest of my family, your love and enduring support has been a great source of strength.

I give thanks to our God Almighty, without whom this day would not be possible.

My fellow citizens, we have an enormous task ahead to revive our economy and deliver on your expectations. The journey will be tough and challenging, there will be ups and downs, but I am certain that with hard work and commitment, we will succeed in building a better life for you and your children.

Finally, let me thank again my masters, the people of Zambia, for the mandate you have given us to serve you.

We will not let you down.

God Bless you all.

And God Bless the Republic of Zambia.

I thank you.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has conceded defeat after his third time political rival and Opposition Leader Hakainde Hichilema won the crucial presidential election.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu conceded the defeat during the National address in Zambia. He thanked the people for giving him chance to rule.

This is expected to pave the way for smooth transfer of power to H.E Lungu’s third time contender President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema.

Electoral Commission of Zambia on Monday declared Opposition Leader and President Lungu’s long standing political rival Hakainde Hichilema as the winner of the just-ended presidential elections.

According Zambian Electoral Commission, President-Elect Hichilema polled 2, 810, 777 against incumbent Lungu’s 1, 814, 201 with over 1million gap.

President Edgar Lungu suffered humiliating defeat in the Sunday’s polls that saw Opposition Leader Hichilema overwhelmingly winning with more than 1 Million votes difference despite abuse of incumbency and complete shutdown of social-WhatsApp, Twitter.

President Lungu earlier alleged that the Sunday’s election was not free and fair claiming that his party’s electoral officials were chased out of polling stations.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu and his long standing political rival and Opposition Leader Hakainde Hichilema faced off for the third time in a knife-edge polls that saw Former Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa hacked in the neck and waist.

The main race to the presidency was drawn between the governing Patriotic Party (PF) led President Edgar Lungu and opposition United Party for National Development led by his long time rival in Hakainde Hichilema.

The Sunday knife-edge polls saw total shutdown of social media- WhatsApp and Twitter by government, forcing Zambians to rely on VPN for internet access, a situation many described as worrying, undemocratic in modern world, perverse, awkward and founded on little or no basis.

Watch the video of Zambian President Lungu conceding defeat :

Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema, from President of UNIP Bishop Trevor Mwamba, President of People’s Alliance for Change Andyford Mayele Banda and others.

Source : africaneditors.com