HH will not accept defeat – YALI

By PETER SICHALI UPND president Hakainde Hichilema is showing dangerous traits and may not accept the outcome of the 2021 general elections, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) president Andrew Ntewewe has said. And Mr Ntewewe said it would be a mistake for Zambians to vote for Mr Hichilema because he has dictatorial tendencies and might not want to leave office. Mr Ntewewe said it was unfortunate despite not accepting the outcome of the 2016 general elections, Mr Hichilema has continued with his smear campaign against governance institutions including the Electoral Commission of Zambia. “HH has lost elections five times but he has never conceded defeat up to now he has never recognized President Edgar Lungu as winner of 2016 elections and up to now he has never recognized the President and these are dangerous traits and makes one wonder what he is planning to do  next time he loses an election,” Mr Ntewewe said. Mr Ntewewe said it is disappointing that the international community which is paying much attention to Zambia’s  elections has not seen anything wrong with an individual who had not accepted the defeat of 2016 and is going into the next election. He said it was important for the church to counsel Mr Hichilema before he plunges the country into chaos. Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has charged that Mr Hichilema and UPND were under pressure to win 2021 general elections because it had borrowed heavily. Mr Lusambo said Mr Hichilema was   not suitable to be republican president.