President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Hakainde Hichilema’s renewed mandate to lead Zambia comes with a “profound responsibility” to govern in the interests of all citizens, strengthen democratic institutions and preserve peace and unity.

Hichilema was re-elected with 60% of the vote in Zambia’s 13 August general elections.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah congratulated Hichilema on his victory, saying the confidence placed in him by Zambian voters carries an equally weighty duty.

“Democracy is strengthened not only by the holding of elections but also by our collective commitment to protecting the institutions, values and freedoms that give those elections meaning," she said.

She also congratulated Zambians for exercising their sovereign right to choose their leaders, saying political leaders, parties, institutions and citizens all have a duty to ensure electoral competition does not undermine national cohesion or threaten peace and stability.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah hailed Namibia and Zambia’s deep historical ties, forged through the liberation struggles of Southern Africa and sustained through close political, economic and people-to-people relations.

She said Namibia looks forward to working with Hichilema, his government and the people of Zambia to deepen the longstanding partnership between the two countries and advance a shared future of peace, prosperity and development.