Zambia's Hichilema: 'cattle boy' and two-time president
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second term in office following a career as a successful businessman. Despite his electoral success and economic reforms, he faces ongoing challenges regarding the cost of living and past criticisms of his government's handling of political dissent.
Why it matters
Hichilema's leadership is pivotal for Zambia's economic recovery and its democratic trajectory in a region often marked by political instability.
Hakainde Hichilema, who secured a second term as Zambia's president on Tuesday, built a business empire before first winning the presidency in 2021, but says he remains at heart an ordinary "cattle boy". Known simply as "HH", the 64-year-old tycoon first came to power after defeating his longtime rival Edgar Lungu in a landslide win on his sixth run for the top job. He won the August 13 poll with around 60 percent of votes against his closest rival, Brian Mundubile, who mounted a spirited last-minute challenge for the presidency in a bitter accusation-filled election. Hichilema entered the race as the clear favourite after steering Zambia through a major economic turnaround, restructuring its debt, restoring ties with international lenders and courting millions of dollars in investment, particularly in the country's valuable copper industry. He had also made primary and secondary education free.
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