Africa not free for scramble—Lazarus Chakwera
President Lazarus Chakwera has said African countries are not up for grabs.
Chakwera said this Tuesday during the inauguration of Zambia’s newly elected president Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka, Zambia.
Hichilema defeated Edgar Lungu in general elections held on August 12 2021.
“No longer should the watching world dare to define what Africa is, lest they misrepresent it yet again by majoring on minors or advancing the usual Afro-pessimism that amplifies negatives read out of context.
“This Zambian story is proof positive that Africa is not an infant to be babysat. This Zambian story is proof positive that Africa is not a free-for-all [land] to be scrambled for, hoodwinked and robbed by mercenaries of Eastern and Western greed,” he said.
He said the world should not wonder as to what Africa is because the Zambian story displayed the truest answer, in which the continent is the spirit of unity finding expression in the will of the Zambian electorate.
Chakwera hailed the peaceful transition of power from Lungu to Hichilema and touted the latter for expression of maturity.
In his inaugural speech, Hakainde promised to have zero tolerance to corruption and ensure that there is enough food for the country and further create jobs for the youth.
Chakwera flew to Zambia Tuesday and returned on the same day.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
