Hakainde Hichilema
Hakainde Hichilema (born 4 June 1962) is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021. After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with 59.02% of the vote. He has led the United Party for National Development since 2006 following the death of the party founder Anderson Mazoka.
Hakainde Hichilema | |
|---|---|
Hichilema in 2023 | |
| 7th President of Zambia | |
| Assumed office 24 August 2021 | |
| Vice President | Mutale Nalumango |
| Preceded by | Edgar Lungu |
| President of the UPND | |
| Assumed office 24 May 2006 | |
| Vice President | Batuke Imenda |
| Preceded by | Anderson Mazoka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 June 1962 Hachipona, Northern Rhodesia, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Monze District, Zambia) |
| Political party | United Party for National Development |
| Spouse | Mutinta Hichilema |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Zambia (BA) University of Birmingham (MBA) |
Prior to his election, Hichilema was a major opponent of Edgar Lungu, the president of Zambia from 2015 to 2021. On 11 April 2017, Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason, a move that was seen as an illegitimate act by Lungu to silence a political rival. The arrest and charge were widely condemned, with protests held in Zambia and abroad, demanding Hichilema's release and condemning the increasing authoritarianism of Lungu's regime. Hichilema was released from prison on 16 August 2017, and the charge of treason was dropped.