President William Ruto has urged African leaders to ensure political competition does not undermine national unity, stability and economic development, warning that countries cannot prosper when every election creates uncertainty.
Speaking in Lusaka, Zambia, on Tuesday during the inauguration of President Hakainde Hichilema for a second term, Ruto said political leaders have a responsibility to compete for power without weakening the institutions and cohesion of their countries.
“For all of us who seek political leadership in Africa, the responsibility is clear. We must compete vigorously without becoming enemies. We must disagree without destroying anything. And we must seek victory without excluding,” Ruto said.
“Our politics must never become more important than our countries.”
Ruto said sustained economic development depends on political stability and public confidence in national institutions, arguing that businesses and investors are unlikely to commit capital where political uncertainty repeatedly threatens the operating environment.
He said elections should determine who governs, rather than define who belongs in a country.
“Elections will produce winners and losers. Some will celebrate, others will be disappointed. But when the contest is over, the nation must remain united,” he said.
Hichilema was sworn in at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka after securing about 60 per cent of the vote in the August 13 presidential election. His main rival, Brian Mundubile, received about 38 per cent and rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities. The election was followed by controversy over the arrest of opposition figures and concerns about the process.
Ruto congratulated Hichilema on securing a second term and urged him to govern inclusively, including those who did not support him at the ballot.
“They all belong equally to Zambia and they must all have a place in the future of the country,” Ruto said.
“I wish you wisdom and strength in the service of the people of Zambia. May this new chapter strengthen the unity of this nation, enlarge opportunity for every Zambian, and advance our larger African journey.”
Hichilema echoed the call for political tolerance, saying differences were inevitable in a democracy but should never threaten national peace and stability.
“We disagree as political competitors, not as enemies,” Hichilema said, extending an olive branch to his opponents.
“We extend our hand to those who opposed us, not as a gesture of political convenience, but as an expression of our conviction that this republic belongs equally to all of us.”
He said his administration would listen to constructive criticism and work with political rivals where national interests required cooperation.
Beyond politics, Ruto challenged African countries to make better use of the continent’s vast natural and human resources to accelerate economic transformation.
He said Africa has sufficient agricultural land, energy resources, minerals and a young population capable of driving development, but continues to export raw materials and jobs that could be retained on the continent.
“The challenge before us, therefore, is not absence of resources. It is how we use these resources to create opportunity and to create wealth,” he said.
Ruto said the African Continental Free Trade Area offered countries an opportunity to move away from fragmented national markets and build a stronger integrated economic bloc.
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