It is not normal for incumbents to lose elections in between their terms. Not anywhere, least of all in Africa.
However, the election of Zambia's veteran opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema and his swearing-in on Tuesday has inspired his counterparts across Africa.
This is particularly given that it comes just over a year after the nullification of a presidential election in Malawi and the win by opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera in the repeat election.
Hichilema had unsuccessfully sought the seat five times.
Perhaps aware of the message his win sent across the region and continent, Hichilema invited opposition leaders from various African countries to his inauguration in the capital, Lusaka.
The leaders were from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya and Uganda.
Among those who attended was Kenya’s Raila Odinga, an ally of Hichilema.
Raila will be making his fifth stab at the presidency and his political base believes it will be his "Hichilema moment".
Reacting to his win on August 16, Raila said, “A free, fair, credible and verifiable election always certainly returns the will of the people.
"It is my hope that this election strengthens the democratic life of your Zambia, brings more prosperity to the people and reminds fellow Africans elsewhere that nothing is impossible.”
On arrival in Lusaka on August 23, a day to the swearing-in, Kenya’s opposition doyen said the inauguration would be a great day for the people of Zambia and Africa as a whole as they will witness a seamless transfer of power as envisaged by democratic processes.
On the D-day, Raila declared, “A new dawn has broken today for the People and Nation of Zambia at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka!”
“The future is bright for all Africans!” he said.
Mmusi Maimane, the former leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance, was also in attendance.
“What a moment in history. We will have more of these moments in Africa. The winds of change are blowing.
"Congratulations once again to my friend Hichilema, to the United Party for National Development and to the people of Zambia on this new chapter. Next in line to freedom is Zimbabwe,” Maimane said.
Hichilema was part of an alliance of opposition parties in southern Africa, led by Maimane. The alliance seeks to transform the politics in the region.
“I am telling you. There is a wind blowing across SADC, across Africa,” he said on August 24.
Botswana opposition leader Dumelang Saleshando and president of Botswana Congress Party said the inauguration day was a day worth storing in one's memory.
“Witnessed a legend of Zambia's opposition politics assuming the highest office. Also made time to share notes with other opposition leaders from the region,” he tweeted.
Zimbabwe’s Nelson Chamisa of Movement for Democratic Change was in a celebratory mood.
“I’m so humbled and excited to have received a call and personally congratulated my brother and President-elect HE @HHichilema.
"Join me to congratulate the people of Zambia who continue to inspire us all. Our turn as Zimbabwe is coming. We won’t disappoint! God is faithful!” he tweeted.
Days later, he said the Zambian election had reminded the people of Zimbabwe and Africa that institutions matter.
“Democracy is not about individuals but recognising the choice of citizens. The key is institutions accepting and supporting those choices.
"If they work, good. If they don’t, the people will say no, let’s give others a chance,” Chamisa said.
On August 15, a day before the announcement of the results by the electoral commission, MDC said the election victory was triumph for democracy in light of the growing authoritarian consolidation we have witnessed in countries such as Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
“We draw many lessons from the Zambian story. Over the last few days, Zambians have engaged in an orderly and democratic electoral process.
"It was characterised by a higher voter turnout and the respect for the will of the people in line with the Constitution of Zambia, regional and international norms and practices,” the statement said.
Tanzania opposition candidate in the 2020 election Tundu Lissu said, “Zambians have shown us it can be done, no matter what they put us through, no matter the odds”.
The Zambia election, in which Hichilema secured 2,810,777 votes while incumbent President Edward Lungu was second with 1,814,201 votes, out of seven million registered voters, further inspired the continent through its smooth transition.
Hichilema was brutalised, tear-gassed and even detained by the President in April 2017 over a traffic mishap that was deemed treasonous after his convoy failed to give way to the presidential motorcade.
Police also raided his home and lobbed teargas.
These are common experiences by opposition figures in Africa.
But like every other party, there are always spoilers.
Uganda’s opposition Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, said he had been barred from attending the inauguration.
“Yesterday night, I communicated to President Hakainde’s Inauguration Committee and expressed deep regrets for not attending this momentous event, after all my efforts to travel to Zambia were frustrated,” Bobi Wine tweeted.
He added: “In the coming days, I will issue a statement giving further details. None the less, I remain very grateful for the invitation”.
Bobi Wine thanked the people of Zambia “for showing the way”.
“It is our duty as a generation to ensure that peaceful transitions become normal on this our continent,” said Bobi Wine, who was detained after challenging President Yoweri Museveni in the 2020 elections.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
