Hakainde Hichilema

About

Hakainde Hichilema (born 4 June 1962), often known by his initials HH and the nickname “Bally”, is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021. After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with 59.02% of the vote. He has led the United Party for National Development since 2006, following the death of party founder Anderson Mazoka.
Prior to his election, Hichilema was a major opponent of Edgar Lungu, the president of Zambia from 2015 to 2021. On 11 April 2017, Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason, a move that was seen as an illegitimate act by Lungu to silence a political rival. The arrest and charge were widely condemned, with protests held in Zambia and abroad, demanding Hichilema’s release and condemning the increasing authoritarianism of Lungu’s regime. Hichilema was released from prison on 16 August 2017, and the charge of treason was dropped.
Since the deaths of Lungu in 2025 and former acting president Guy Scott in 2026, Hichilema has been the only living Zambian president.

== Early life and career ==
Hichilema was born…