KAVINDELE Urges KHAMA to Respect Zambia’s Sovereignty
By Arnold Tutu
Former Vice-President ENOCK KAVINDELE has urged former Botswana President IAN KHAMA to exercise restraint in his criticism of Zambia’s governance and respect the country’s sovereignty.
Mr. KAVINDELE says while Mr. KHAMA is entitled to express his views on democracy, serious allegations against a democratically elected Head of State should be supported by credible evidence.
In a press statement issued in Lusaka today, Mr. KAVINDELE said concerns about Zambia’s governance should be addressed through constructive engagement and established diplomatic channels.
He said Zambia remains a constitutional, multiparty democracy with independent institutions, including the Judiciary, Parliament, the Electoral Commission and the Human Rights Commission, which provide checks and balances on government.
Mr. KAVINDELE said the country’s democratic record is demonstrated by peaceful transfers of power through elections in 1991, 2011 and 2021, when incumbent governments lost and handed over power.
He said the August 13th, 2026 general election attracted 13 presidential candidates and was observed by several international organisations, including the African Union, COMESA, SADC and the European Union.
Mr. KAVINDELE said the SADC Electoral Observation Mission deployed 106 observers from ten member states across all ten provinces and reported a calm and peaceful atmosphere at 275 of the 277 polling stations it visited.
He said the Electoral Commission of Zambia subsequently declared President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA re-elected with 60.49 per cent of the valid votes, representing 2,965,326 votes.
Mr. KAVINDELE has also cited the abolition of the death penalty, the repeal of criminal defamation of the President and the enactment of the Access to Information Act in 2023 as examples of democratic and legislative reforms undertaken under the current administration.
He said Zambia’s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2027 to 2029 term, with 177 votes, is also an expression of international confidence in the country.
Mr. KAVINDELE has also referred to President HICHILEMA’s political journey, noting that he contested the presidency seven, lost five elections and eventually won in 2021 before securing re-election in 2026.
He said President HICHILEMA also experienced political persecution while in opposition, including spending approximately four months in detention in 2017 on a treason charge that was later discontinued.
Mr. KAVINDELE said former President KHAMA had previously written to then President EDGAR LUNGU, urging restraint during that period.
He has acknowledged that Zambia, like other democracies, should remain open to criticism and scrutiny, but says such criticism should be based on facts and evidence.
Mr. KAVINDELE has also emphasised the importance of respecting Botswana’s institutions, including Ntlo ya Dikgosi, while maintaining that concerns between countries should be addressed through appropriate diplomatic and regional platforms.
He said the longstanding relationship between Zambia and Botswana, built on historical ties and cooperation in trade, infrastructure and regional integration, should not be undermined by individual political differences.
Mr. KAVINDELE has cited the Kazungula Bridge, the Kazungula Bridge Authority and the Zambia-Botswana Bi-National Commission as examples of the strong cooperation between the two countries.
He has called on Mr. KHAMA to exercise careful judgement and extend to Zambia the same respect that Botswana expects from other nations.