⬆️ ANALYSIS | Hichilema Attending Samia’s Inauguration —A Look Beyond Emotion
President Hakainde Hichilema’s attendance at President-elect Samia Suluhu Hassan’s inauguration in Tanzania has stirred heated reaction at home. Critics argue that standing beside a leader elected amid violence and internet shutdowns contradicts Zambia’s democratic values. The anger is understandable. Africa has witnessed a rise in young citizens demanding clean elections, and Tanzania’s turmoil struck a nerve.
But foreign policy is not driven by comment sections or emotional climate. It is measured against national security, regional economics, and diplomatic doctrine. Zambia’s decision sits inside that framework.
First, Tanzania is not a distant neighbour. It is a lifeline. More than half of Zambia’s fuel flows through Dar es Salaam. Maize imports during our drought came through Tanzanian corridors. Every day, traders at Nakonde and Tunduma move goods that feed family businesses across Zambia. The TAZARA Railway and TAZAMA pipeline are not historical symbols. They are active arteries our economy depends on. Walking away from a formal state occasion would signal rupture in a corridor we cannot replace overnight.
Second, diplomatic practice matters. When an election outcome is contested or questioned, African states apply institutional channels. The African Union and regional blocs have already recognised the Tanzanian result. Zambia is a member of SADC and the African Union Peace and Security Council. Breaking ranks unilaterally would not topple Samia. It would isolate Zambia within the same institutions we rely on when we need support on international finance, regional peacekeeping, and border cooperation.
Third, attendance does not equal approval. It signals continuity in state-to-state relations while leaving room for principled positions expressed privately or through multilateral systems. Presidents often attend inaugurations of governments they disagree with. That is the nature of diplomacy. Engagement preserves leverage. Isolation trades influence for applause.
Fourth, stability across that border directly affects us. If unrest escalated in Tanzania, Nakonde would feel it before Lusaka did. Zambia cannot afford economic shocks triggered by a foreign policy statement crafted to satisfy social media rather than protect national interests.
Finally, Zambia’s democratic voice remains intact when it is steady, not reactionary. The President can attend an inauguration and still advocate for electoral reforms, civil liberties, and peaceful governance across the region. States act on two tracks: principle and interest. Responsible leadership pairs them instead of abandoning one.
This moment requires sober judgment. Supporting Hichilema’s attendance is not siding with electoral violence. It is recognising that a nation must survive the day before it can shape tomorrow. Diplomacy keeps corridors open. It protects traders, fuel lines, and food security. That is the quiet, unglamorous work of statecraft.
History shows that countries that mix passion with strategy endure. Zambia is not turning its back on democracy. It is engaging with its neighbours while keeping space to speak when it counts. Peace at the border, stability in supply chains, and a respected voice in regional bodies are not luxuries. They are national assets.
© The People’s Brief | Editorial Crew
Foreign policy should reflect the interests of Zambia. The President did the right thing when we take other issues into consideration.
Tanzania is not like any other neighbour. Our economic fortunes are closely related to how we relate with the Tanzanian authorities.
This is why I like HH – what an excellent president we have and we all should be proud of this man.
HH is a true believer who is also a genuine friend to many people including his fellow leaders. HH will not abandon you and will stand with you at the time of critical need. There is no reason why he should not attend Suluhu’s inauguration. Tanzania is our true and reliable neighbor that has always stood by Zambia’s side at the time of need and we should all stand by Suluhu at this time. They may have their own internal issues and we can get involved in that. Besides, there is nothing tangible that Suluhu has done except the usual politicking which is not our business in Tanzania.
WELL DONE HH, WELL DONE!!!
There’s nothing like Foreign Policy here. Don’t justify wrong things. What foreign policy is there by not just being with a brutal Murderer killing Innocent Citizens but also sharing the platform with Somalian War Lords? All Leaders shunned the inauguration ceremony except for an equally elections thief from Mozambique and a Somali ” War Lord ” .
This is a case of one Dictator legitimizing electoral Thievery of another Dictator. Period.
These two Dictators are using the same Play Book.
Imprisoning of Political Opposition Leaders, Abuse of State Institutions, Weaponsation of the Judiciary , Suppression of Freedoms of Assembly, association, Sham Electoral Process and sham elections, fake Voter Registration exercise, Sham Constitutional Amendment Processes.
What is happening in Tanzania is exactly what is happening in Zambia.
And the Zambian Dictator is investing in the Tanzanian Dictator with 2026 in sight..
But he won’t succeed using the Tanzanian Formula here.
Zambia has a strong Civil Society Movement…and the Christian Church won’t allow him.
You seem not to understand the bigger picture involved in this matter. Yes it might be a bitter pill to swallow, but the reelected presdient of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, whether crookedly or rightly, will be in charge of the country for the coming few years, and if we sour the relationship with her (Tanzania), our economy may suffer some consequences. I’m sure you are aware that we more trade with and through People should remember that we have more trade with Tanzania and it’s ports, and than any other neighboring countries, so we have to be strategic in how we handle this issue. We should think about what would happen if she cuts trade relationship with Zambia? Remember that TAZAMA pipeline runs through that country, so would happen if our fuel supply is cut off? Will our emotional like or dislike of her elections help Zambia in that scenario?
You seem not to get the bigger picture involved in this matter. Yes it might be a bitter pill to swallow, but the reelected presdient of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, whether crookedly or rightly, will be in charge of the country for the coming few years, and if we sour the relationship with her (Tanzania), our economy may suffer some consequences. I’m sure you are aware that we trade more with and through Tanzania and it’s ports, than any other neighboring countries, so we have to be strategic in how we handle this issue. We should think about what would happen if the president of Tanzania cuts trade relationship with Zambia? Remember that TAZAMA pipeline runs through that country, so what would happen if our fuel supply is cut off? Will our emotional like or dislike of her elections help Zambia in that scenario?
Diplomacy? 1000 people dead from protesting, which is their right after a sham election. But hey, look the other way and pretend it’s ok, our economy needs this person! Not. When Lungu was killing people and stealing money, we opposed because it is wrong. Same here.
If the despots are who you cling to, then you don’t deserve positions of leadership.
By attending this dictators inauguration you are making your stance known that you are against the Tanzanian people and instead you support dictatorship. This will.have a trickle down effect on ordinary zambians who go to do business in TZ as now they will.be treated with disrespect.
May sadc is a sham