Mnangagwa congratulates Hichilema, says he is ready to work with him

By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa


President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated Zambia’s newly elected president, Hakainde Hichilema stating he is available to work closely with him.


This was revealed in a letter, Mnangagwa wrote to Hichilema on the 16th of August congratulating him.


This comes after Hichilema was officially declared winner of the controversial August 12 presidential elections that were marred by violence and various human rights violations.

He heavily defeated the outgoing president Edgar Lungu after securing 2 810 757 votes against Lungu’s 1 814 201.

In his letter, Mnangagwa wrote, “I am gratified to warmly congratulate you on your election as president of the Republic of Zambia.

“I wish to assure you my readiness to work closely with you at regional, continental and international levels as we seek to advance the ideas of development, peace and stability,” reads the statement.

Albeit, ED also went on to reveal that he is willling to work closely with Lungu’s predecessor, Hichilema, to ensure that the two countries Zimbabwe and Zambia will strengthen their relationship.

“As you assume your term in office, I wish to assure you my availablity to work closely with you to solidify and deepen the cordial relations that exist between our two sister Republics for a mutual beenefit of our two people’s,” he revealed.

Nonetheless, Zimbabwe’s exiled former minister of information Proffesor Jonathan Moyo dismissed ED’s gesture describing it as “perfunctory”.

“PERFUNCTORY congratulations from @edmnangagwa to @HHichilema, President-Elect of the Republic of Zambia,” said Moyo on Twitter.