BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Zimbabwe’s mainstream opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is celebrating his Zambian ally Haikande Hichelema’s stunning election victory, describing the milestone as an inspiration.
Hichelema, a wealthy businessman popularly known as HH, beat President Edgar Lungu in the August 12 presidential elections, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on Monday.
Justice Esau Chulu, ECZ chairperson, declared Hichelema the winner in the early hours of Monday with official results showing the wealthy businessman securing 2 810 757 votes against Lungu’s 1 814 201 votes.
Only one constituency out of the 156 was yet to report after vote counting for the presidential and parliamentary elections took longer than expected due to a high turnout.
Chamisa, who narrowly lost to President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2018 presidential elections, said he had received a call from Hichelema after he was declared winner of the polls.
“I am so humbled and excited to have received a call and personally congratulated my brother and president elect HE Hichilema,” the MDC Alliance leader tweeted.
“Join me to congratulate the people of Zambia, who continue to inspire us all.
‘Our turn as Zimbabwe is coming. We won’t disappoint. God is faithful.”
Joseph Kalimbwe, a prominent member of Hichelema’s campaign team, said MDC Alliance was the only party in the region that supported their ‘struggle.’
“MDC Alliance, you have been true in supporting our struggle,” Kalimbwe said in response to the MDC Alliance’s congratulatory message to Hichelema’s United Party for National Development (UPND).
“Apart from friends and individuals within Africa, you are the only political party in the region, which supported us from the very start.
“We must never forget who was present from the very beginning. “We are thankful.”
MDC Alliance said UPND was its sister party and urged Zimbabwe’s institutions to follow Zambia’s example in forthcoming elections.
Nick Mangwana, the government spokesperson, congratulated Hichilema and UPND “on getting the mandate of the Zambian people.”
Mangwana went on to take a subtle dig on Chamisa by tweeting a picture of the MDC Alliance leader with Hichilema and South Africa’s Mmusi Maimane, which he captioned: “In the folklore of matrimonial unions, there is always that bridesmaid who is never destined to marry.
“She will be part of a number of bridal crews but for her the big day will never come.
“After each wedding the newly-weds stop communicating with certain singles.”
For Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba, a tweet about the same picture where he insinuated that the opposition leaders, including Hichilema, came back to haunt him.
Zimbabweans on Twitter took turns to point out that the outcome of the Zambian polls had left Charamba in an awkward position.