This archive report was first published on 25 August 2021.
On August 25, 2021, Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in as the seventh president of Zambia, marking a significant milestone in the country's democratic history.
The inauguration ceremony, held at Lusaka's National Heroes Stadium, was attended by 10 African heads of state and government, including Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga.
US President Joe Biden sent a delegation to the event, while other Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, also sent representatives.
President Hichilema, a businessman who succeeded in his sixth attempt at the presidency, promised to run a united, prosperous, and equitable Zambia, with a focus on ensuring rule of law and fiscal discipline.
He also pledged to address the country's mounting debt, the cost of food, and unemployment, and to ensure that all citizens enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by the country's constitution.
With over 2.8 million votes, President Hichilema defeated incumbent President Edgar Lungu, who managed to get 1.8 million votes.
President Hichilema's inauguration marked a new dawn for Zambia, with many youths clad in party regalia turning up to witness the event.
