Hakainde Hichilema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hakainde Hichilema
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Hichilema in 2022
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| 7th President of Zambia | |
| Assumed office 24 August 2021 |
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| Vice President | Mutale Nalumango |
| Preceded by | Edgar Lungu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 June 1962 Hachipona, Northern Rhodesia, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Monze District, Zambia) |
| Political party | United Party for National Development |
| Spouse | Mutinta Hichilema |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Zambia (BA) University of Birmingham (MBA) |
Hakainde Hichilema (born 4 June 1962) is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician. He is currently the seventh president of Zambia, a role he has held since 24 August 2021. Before becoming president, he ran for the top job five times in previous elections. He finally won the 2021 presidential election with 59.02% of the votes. He has been the leader of the United Party for National Development since 2006.
Before his election, Hichilema was a strong opponent of Edgar Lungu, who was president from 2015 to 2021. In 2017, Hichilema was arrested and accused of trying to overthrow the government. Many people saw this as an unfair attempt to silence a political rival. His arrest was widely criticized, and protests took place in Zambia and other countries. Hichilema was released from prison in August 2017, and the accusation was dropped.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hakainde Hichilema was born in a village in the Monze District of Zambia. He received a special scholarship to study at the University of Zambia. In 1986, he earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration.
After that, he went to the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. There, he completed a MBA degree. His studies focused on Finance and Business Strategy.
Early Career in Business
Before entering politics, Hichilema had a successful career in business. He worked as the chief executive officer (CEO) for two major companies in Zambia. He was the CEO of Coopers and Lybrand Zambia from 1994 to 1998. Later, he led Grant Thornton Zambia as CEO from 1998 to 2006.
Political Journey
Hichilema is a member of the United Party for National Development (UPND). This is a major political party in Zambia. He became the party's president in 2006 after the death of its founder, Anderson Mazoka. He also led the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which was a group of three opposition parties.
Presidential Elections
Hichilema first ran for president in the 2006 election. He was the UDA candidate and finished third. He also ran in the 2008 election and came in third place again.
In 2009, his party, the UPND, tried to team up with Michael Sata's Patriotic Front (PF) for the 2011 election. However, this partnership broke apart before the election.
Hichilema was one of the main candidates in the January 2015 presidential election. He lost by a very small number of votes to Edgar Lungu. Hichilema felt the election was unfair. He ran against Lungu again in the August 2016 presidential election and was narrowly defeated once more.
Arrest and Release
In April 2017, Hakainde Hichilema was arrested. He was accused of trying to overthrow the government. This happened after his car was said to have not given way to the president's motorcade. Many people thought this was a minor traffic issue, not something that should lead to such a serious charge.
The police entered Hichilema's home forcefully during the arrest. He was held in prison for four months.
Support During Imprisonment
Many people and groups spoke out against Hichilema's arrest. The United States and the European Union criticized it. The Africa Liberal Network said it was an attempt to silence opposition. Catholic bishops in Zambia also condemned the arrest.
Leaders from other countries, like Mmusi Maimane from South Africa and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, tried to visit Hichilema in prison. The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, visited him twice.
While Hichilema was in jail, President Lungu declared a state of emergency. Critics believed this was to increase his power.
Protests and Release
Protests demanding Hichilema's release took place in Zambia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. These protests also spoke out against what they saw as unfair rule in Zambia.
Hichilema was released from prison on 16 August 2017. Many people celebrated his release across Zambia. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan praised the Zambian authorities for dropping the charges.
After his release, Hichilema became even more popular. He received the Africa Freedom Award in South Africa. He was also invited to speak at important events in London and South Africa. A book about his time in prison, called Hakainde Hichilema's Prison Diary, was published.
Later Police Questioning
In December 2020, Hichilema was questioned by the police again. This was about an old property purchase from 2004. When he arrived for questioning, there were clashes between police and his supporters.
Presidency
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Hakainde Hichilema ran for president for the sixth time in the election held on 12 August 2021. He was declared the winner on 16 August.
After his victory, President Hichilema said he wanted to appoint skilled Zambians to work in his government. Some of his key appointments included Sylvia Masebo, Situmbeko Musokotwane, and Jito Kayumba.
Awards and Recognition
Hakainde Hichilema has received several honors and awards.
Awards
- Africa Freedom Award: He received this award from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in October 2017.
Honorary Degrees
He has also been given special honorary doctorate degrees from universities:
| Year | University | Country | Honour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Valley View University |  Ghana |
Doctorate |
| 2024 | Heriot-Watt University |  Scotland |
Doctorate |
| 2024 | University of Zambia |  Zambia |
Doctorate |
Interviews and Speeches
Hichilema has been featured on important television programs. In November 2017, he was interviewed on the BBC program HARDtalk. He was the first Zambian opposition leader to appear on this show.
He also spoke at The Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London in October 2017. He returned to speak there again in November 2021 after becoming president.
In September 2022, President Hichilema gave a speech at the Seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Personal Life
Hakainde Hichilema is married to Mutinta, and they have three children. He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In December 2020, he and his wife became Master Guides in Lusaka.
Hichilema is a successful businessman and farmer. He is known as the second-largest cattle rancher in Zambia.
See also
- United Party for National Development
- Sylvia Masebo
