"Proud to Have Competition": Hichilema Champions Democracy in BBC Interview

President Hakainde Hichilema says he is proud to face competition in the forthcoming election, insisting a vibrant democracy is exactly how it should be.

He also defended his government's record, insisting it had delivered on the great majority of the promises made on coming to office. He said his administration had inherited an economy in sharp decline but had since restored stability and restructured the debt, pointing to debt savings of around US$1.9 billion that can now be redirected into productive investment.

On agriculture, Mr Hichilema highlighted a record maize harvest, the highest ever recorded, which he said had boosted supply and whilst he acknowledged the challenges still facing ordinary Zambians, he noted that the price of mealie meal was beginning to come down as a result.

Addressing one of the country's most pressing challenges, the President acknowledged that youth unemployment remained a concern. But he pointed to the many young people already employed across the public service, including in the army, healthcare and teaching, and pledged that youths would be first in line for jobs created should he win a second term