PETITIONING HH’s RE-ELECTION WOULD’VE BEEN A WASTE OF TIME – KAVINDELE

Former vice-president Enock Kavindele has asserted that any legal challenge or election petition mounted by opposition NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile against President Hakainde Hichilema's re-election would amount to a complete waste of time. Speaking on the political developments following the general elections, Kavindele noted that the massive votes garnered by President Hichilema across various regions decisively demonstrate broad citizen approval. He emphasized that the incumbent head of state secured substantial support even in regions that had previously been unyielding to the ruling party in the 2021 polls. Kavindele's remarks come in the wake of the Electoral Commission of Zambia declaring President Hichilema the winner of the August 13 general election with nearly three million votes, comfortably surpassing Mundubile. Despite the decisive tally, the opposition camp had initially expressed strong discontent, pointing to alleged logistical hurdles, irregularities, and transparency concerns surrounding the vote counting and transmission process. However, veteran politicians like Kavindele have urged political players to accept the democratic verdict and pivot toward national unity rather than protracted legal battles. The former vice-president stressed that the prevailing economic and social challenges facing Zambia require a collective effort from all stakeholders, transcending partisan lines. He argued that instead of engaging in futile judicial challenges that could further polarize the nation, political actors should focus on collaborating for the betterment of the country. His sentiments echo broader calls from various civic and religious groupings emphasizing peace, reconciliation, and stability as the country navigates the post-election transition period. Meanwhile, the political landscape remains tense following unusual security measures and administrative debates surrounding the constitutional window for election petitions. While oppo