By Dorrothy Moyo | Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to clash with the man he usurped power from using both the Zim army and Zambian state security against, Nelson Chamisa, in that same neighbouring country tomorrow.
Both politicians have been invited by the incoming Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema for his inauguration.
While Chamisa’s itinerary was not clear, Mnangagwa leaves Zimbabwe today to join other Heads of State at the inauguration of new Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka tomorrow.
President-elect Hichilema won the recent Zambian presidential election, beating former President Edgar Lungu by almost one million votes. He garnered 2 810 757 votes, while Mr Lungu trailed with 1 814 201 and conceded defeat, committing to hand over power peacefully.
Last week in his congratulatory message Mnangagwa wished the new Zambian leader well during his presidential term and pledged to work with him closely in strengthening ties between the two countries.
Mnangagwa assured President-elect Hichilema that Zimbabwe would, in its relations with Zambia, build on the deep historical ties forged between our two nations during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, as well on the partnership maintained by outgoing President Edgar Lungu.
“As you assume your term of office, I wish to assure you of my availability to work closely with you to solidify and deepen the cordial relations that exist between our two sister republics for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.
“I also wish to assure you of my readiness to work closely with you at the regional, continental and international levels as we seek advance the ideals of development peace and stability,” he said.
Deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr George Charamba, said Mnangagwa had warmly accepted President-elect Hichilema’s invitation to his inauguration tomorrow in Lusaka in the spirit of Sadc collegiality.
He said this was also a recognition of the role Mnangagwa played in stabilising the potential volatile post-election in Zambia last week.
“The president-elect reached out to President Mnangagwa and he was able to communicate his fears over the smooth transition to the President, as the outgoing member of the organ troika.
“President Mnangagwa then reached out to the outgoing President Lungu to respect the wishes of the Zambian people. That way both the victor and loser opened channels of communication, thereby securing the peace that is prevailing in Zambia post-election.
Mr Charamba also said Sadc Heads of State are all behind President-elect Hichilema as he had won the election.
“When the President was in Malawi last week, All Sadc heads in attendance agreed that they must attend the inauguration ceremony as part of their support for the political and election process in Zambia, which after all is the cradle of liberation movements in Southern Africa,” he said.
Mr Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambian businessman and politician.
After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with over 59 percent of the vote. He has led the United Party for National Development.
After he was announced as the winner last week, President-elect Hichilema pledged that his government would deliver on the promise of change.
Rebuffing political smear campaigns based on tribe and ethnicity, he urged the public to mark his scorecard after he names his first cabinet in just over a week’s time after his inauguration.
“We want to send a signal to reunite this country under the One Zambia, One Nation motto. Jobs shall be given on equal merit without looking at one’s surname,” appointing them with an eye on the public interest, he stated.
He extended an olive branch to every political opponent and citizen that did not vote for him, saying he will be a President for all Zambians and promised not to gag media and civil society.
Mnangagwa describes Zimbabwe and Zambia as Siamese twins due to the deep relations among the two countries.
The development comes as Mnangagwa used the Lungu-presidency Zambian state security to abuse the Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance party, what is now set to be impossible in the future. In August 2018, when Mnangagwa used the army to change the election results (an event filmed on ZBC TV), he used the Zambian state security to abduct MDC Alliance Deputy President Tendai Biti and forcibly drive him back to Zimbabwe and face false charges. As a result of this abuse, the killing of 6 innocent civilians has remained unresolved and a further 19 have been murdered by Mnangagwa’s state security since then; and commenting on this the Human Rights Watch Southern Africa Director, Dewa Mavhinga said the two Lungu and Mnangagwa used enjoyed impunity during Lungu’s presidency. (Watch video)
Zambia also played a pivotal role in the liberation of Zimbabwe.