United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa has described Zambia’s transition as “African class”, saying he will be monitoring new President Hakainde Hichilema’s policies to decide on possible new investment in the country.
Masiyiwa owns Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa’s largest fibre company, which has operations in Zambia and across the continent.
In its final tally, the electoral commission declared Hichilema winner having scored 2,810,777 votes to defeat Lungu who scored 1,814,201.
Speaking on Zambia’ recent electoral processes and outcome on Monday, Masiyiwa also commended outgoing Zambian leader Edgar Lungu for conceding defeat.
Backed by a coalition of parties and large corporations in the country, Hichilema ran on a pro-business platform.
Masiyiwa said “Like most Africans, I had my eyes fixed this last week on following the Zambian elections.
First of all, I would like to extend my congratulations to now President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema, his supporters, and all the people of Zambia. By any electoral precedence, this is a landslide victory rarely seen these days.
I would also like to commend outgoing President Edgar Lungu for the manner in which he conceded the election: As I told a friend in America, it was a bit of ‘African class’.”
Hichilema, a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church where he is an elder is Zambia’s second-largest cattle rancher.
On 11 April 2017, Hakainde Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason after his motorcade allegedly refused to give way to the one transporting Lungu.
In 2020, Hakainde Hichilema was arrested for an offence that took place on an unknown date in 2004.