Governance Expert and Human Rights Advocate, Wesley Miyanda, has condemned remarks attributed to the former Botswana President Ian Khama, that are describing the current democratic elected government under President Hakainde Hichilema as the newest African state under…

Governance Expert and Human Rights Advocate, Wesley Miyanda, has condemned remarks attributed to the former Botswana President Ian Khama, that are describing the current democratic elected government under President Hakainde Hichilema as the newest African state under dictatorship.

Mr Miyanda says the remarks are not only unfortunate and enormously misplaced, but a threat to political, social and economic ties the two countries share from time immemorial.

In a statement made available to the media ,Mr Miyanda said Zambia stands out as the only African country which has maintained its status as a democratic and peaceful nation with a clean record of conducting credible, peaceful, free and fair elections which have seen peaceful transition of power from one government to the other without any bloodshed.

“Unlike other African countries that have largely continued suffering at the hands of either personalists, military, one-party or totalitarian dictatorships, the European Union rated Zambia as a democratic and peaceful nation in the just ended August 2026 general election”, he explained.

He added that anything that concerns about Zambia’s democratic governance should be addressed through constitutional and constructive engagement and established diplomatic channels by all stakeholders within the country, foreign diplomats and other African leaders.

ZANIS reports that Mr Miyanda further explained that Zambia remains a constitutional, multiparty democracy with full autonomy of all institutions of governance such as legislature, judiciary, electoral Commission of Zambia, Human Rights Commission, and the executive.

“As an African Icon, and especially as former President under a democratically elected Government of Botswana, Dr Ian Khama is fully entitled to express his views on democracy, but serious allegations such as these against a democratically elected Head of State should be supported by credible evidence”, he emphasised.

He said Zambia would not have secured a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council if the country’s democratic status was questionable or condemned by the Human Rights Council.

Mr Miyanda said the recent securing of a seat is a milestone which stands unchallenged, especially after amassing 171 votes out of the total votes of 188 in the UN General Assembly.

He said Zambia has demonstrated to other countries in Africa and at a global level that the country still believes in democratic governance as a beacon of peace 62 years after liberation from colonial masters in 1964.