After suffering a narrow defeat in the 2016 election, Hichilema is pinning his hopes on disenchantment with Lungu’s administration of the economy to clinch the presidency.
“The poor economic situation should benefit the opposition as it adds to its critique of the government’s economic policy,” said Mark Bohlund of REDD research and advisory services.
After losing five elections between 2006 and 2016, Hichilema has vowed to step down as leader of his United Party for National Development (UPND) if he fails again next year. Known by his supporters as HH, Hichilema is a self-made entrepreneur who has become one of the country’s richest businessmen with interests in finance, ranching, property, healthcare and tourism.
Recently, former finance minister and now the leader of opposition party Forum for Democracy and Development Edith Nawakwi accused him of theft from the sale of state institutions two decades ago. Hichilema has maintained his innocence, while some observers believe Nawakwi’s party, widely seen as pro-Lungu, has been enlisted in a scheme aimed to discredit the strongest opposition contender. The allegations enable “Lungu to deflect public attention from growing criticism of corruption in his inner circle and government,” Sishuwa said. “It is also a strategy aimed at potentially excluding Hichilema, who poses the most credible threat to the incumbent’s chance of victory, from the ballot”.
“These people are dead scared of me and their plan is to eliminate me from the election next year,” Hichilema told AFP.
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