HH must state ready to accept defeat, Sishuwa says
By Adrian Mwanza
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema must assure Zambians that he will accept the outcome of the August 13 general elections and hand over power if Zambians vote him out, historian Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa has said.
Speaking when he featured on the Hot Seat on Hot Fm yesterday, Dr Sishuwa said he was sceptical that Hichilema could willingly hand over power.
He said chances were that Hichilema might not accept defeat if he lost the election in August.
“On several occasions, the people of Zambia have invited him to commit to peacefully handing over power if he lost power. The head of state should assure Zambians that if things did not go his way, he would peacefully hand over power to whoever the people of Zambia would choose,” Dr Sishuwa said.
He wondered whether Hichilema would use people such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis to help him hold onto power.
“We see a situation where President Hichilema can ask the Army and other government institutions to help him stay in power,” Dr Sishuwa said.
He urged ECZ to respect the rule of law and the choice of the people.
“ECZ should not even think of tampering with results because if they do, they just risk setting the country on fire,” Dr Sishuwa said.
He said Zambians were watching the conduct of ECZ officials who were once affiliated to the ruling UPND.
