William Ruto’s Speech During HH’s Inauguration Ceremony Leaves Zambians Impressed
Kenyan President William Ruto used Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration to deliver a message that reached far beyond Zambia’s borders: Africa cannot afford to turn every election into a fight over who belongs. He praised Zambia’s enduring conviction of “One Zambia, One Nation,” saying the principle carries a wider African lesson: differences should never become divisions, and political contests should never become national conflict.
“Elections are designed to settle who governs. They should never determine who belongs,” Ruto said. He urged African leaders to compete vigorously without becoming enemies, disagree without destroying anything and seek victory without excluding others. Those who voted for a government and those who did not, he said, all belong equally to their nations and must have a place in the future.
Ruto then turned to Africa’s unfinished journey. The generation of Kenneth Kaunda fought for political freedom, confronting colonialism and apartheid and building independent nations. But, he said, history now asks the present generation a different question: “What will Africa do with its freedom?” Africa has the land, energy, minerals and, most importantly, its young people to transform the continent.
He argued that Africa’s challenge is therefore not a lack of resources, but how those resources are used to create opportunity and wealth. Political freedom must become economic freedom, natural wealth must become African prosperity, and sovereignty must become self-reliance. Africa must also add value to what it produces, trade more with itself and connect its markets, capital and productive capacity.
Ruto also praised Hichilema’s first term, noting that he inherited a Zambia already in debt default before facing a cost-of-living crisis, drought and energy shortages. He credited Hichilema’s administration with progress on the debt crisis, restoring creditor confidence, increasing international reserves and reducing inflation, while also highlighting the expansion of free education.
But with a second mandate, Ruto said, the question changes from “What will you do?” to “What will define your legacy?” He warned that Africa cannot industrialise if every election creates national uncertainty, because businesses need stability, investors need trusted institutions and prosperity needs peace. His closing vision brought the entire speech together: “One nation, one Africa, one destiny.”