INTERVIEW

I don’t need to be an autocrat, says Zambia’s new president

After rising from cattle boy to become one of the country’s richest men, Hakainde Hichilema uses his first international interview since taking power to tell Jane Flanagan how he will do things differently

Hakainde Hichilema amassed one million more votes than his predecessor Edgar Lungu in last month’s general election
Hakainde Hichilema amassed one million more votes than his predecessor Edgar Lungu in last month’s general election
CHONA MWEMBA/EPA
Jane Flanagan
The Times

Having been arrested 15 times since entering politics, once on a phony treason charge that led to four months in prison, Zambia’s new president could be forgiven for feeling vengeful.

Instead, Hakainde Hichilema wants Zambia’s neighbours to join him in recognising his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, as an example of what holds Africa back.

Despite the incumbent party’s strong-arm tactics, including the first army deployment during a Zambian election, Hichilema, on his sixth attempt at election for the top job, pulled off a landslide victory that was too big to steal.

Supporters of Hichilema ride along the streets of Lusaka after his election victory last month
Supporters of Hichilema ride along the streets of Lusaka after his election victory last month
MARCO LONGARI/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

“I told him [Lungu] afterwards, ‘I didn’t like the way you ran the country, you were heavy-handed and autocratic, but I don’t hate you and I will not do to you what you did