Raila joins Heads of State to witness Hakainde inauguration
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga will join 10 Heads of States in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city, ahead of the inauguration of president-elect Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday, August 24.
Odinga arrived in the country on Monday, August 23 to witness one of Zambia’s historic moments.
He was received into the country by top Zambia government officials.
“It will be a great day for the people of Zambia and Africa as a whole to witness a seamless transfer of power as envisaged by democratic processes,” Odinga wrote on his social media accounts.
The former Prime Minister was among the first notable leaders to congratulate the Zambia President-elect Hakainde Hichilema after being declared the winner against the incumbent Edward Lungu.
"Amidst an unprecedented public health challenge, the Zambian people have made Africa proud by conducting a successful election," Odinga said.
Hakainde a former opposition leader secured a landslide victory over his predecessor Edgar Lungu in Zambia's presidential election about a week ago.
The electoral commission of Zambia declared him the winner after garnering 2,810,777 votes against Lungu's 1,814,201.
According to the secretary to the Cabinet Dr Simon Miti the country has received confirmation on the presence of Heads of States and governments from Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Tanzania and the Kingdom of Eswatini at the inauguration ceremony.
Dr Miti also said Angola would be represented at the level of Vice-President, while Ethiopia and Rwanda would be represented at the level of a Speaker. He said former Heads of State of Botswana, Tanzania and Nigeria would also attend the ceremony.
The inauguration ceremony will be held at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka in strict observance of Covid-19 protocols.
The day of the ceremony has been declared a public holiday to enable all citizens to participate in the process.
The greater majority of Zambians countrywide were encouraged to follow the proceedings on national television and other online media platforms.
