Reuters PF supporters in Lusaka celebrate while holding a portrait of Lungu
This week’s most important headlines out of and about Africa.
In this week’s news, Zambians go to the polls, and an editor looks at the 2016 U.S. election and its likely impact on the African continent.
Edgar Lundu Declared Winner of Contested Zambia Election
After tensions and calls for a recount of the vote, Zambian leader Edgar Lundu was declared winner of the August 11 elections.
The Zambia Electoral Commission declared Lundu winner on Monday, August 15 via a live broadcast to the country. The incumbent president, representing the Patriotic Front Party, won the close and hotly contested vote by 50.3 percent. His closest rival, Hichilema Hakainde of the United Party for National Development, scored 47.67 percent.
The results are posted on the election commission’s Twitter feed and also via its Facebook page.
The U.S. National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), which sent election observers to Zambia, stated via its Twitter feed that the results are credible based on corroborated information from its partners in Zambia. Meanwhile, a host of other observers believe the elections were peaceful and credible.
Ugandan Editor Muses About U.S. Election 2016
In the East Africa Business Week, with headquarters in Kampala, Uganda, the editorial titled “How would the USA elections affect Africa?” took some time to muse about the Republican and Democratic nominees for the U.S. presidency, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
In what appears to be an endorsement of Clinton, the former U.S. Secretary of State and a rejection of the billionaire businessman, Trump, the editor writes:
“A quick look at Donald Trump for Africa would most likely be disastrous mainly because he does not think much of Africans, if what he says about Africans is anything to go by. He seems to think Africans are lazy and prone to too much indulgence.”
The editor thinks Trump’s business background does not qualify him for the U.S. presidency.
On Clinton and what her likely Africa policy might or could be, the writer states:
“A cursory look at Hillary Clinton, his rival and nominee for the Democratic party paints a picture of continuity and generally a sense of ‘business as usual.’ In fact, the business community, according to media reports, would much prefer a Clinton victory because there would be no surprises and the markets, as we all know, hate surprises and especially, uncertainty.
“For Africa, it would be the usual diplomacy, maybe an increase in aid here and there, because of the Democratic Party principles, but there will not be much aggression in terms of foreign policy. Under Clinton there is not likely to be a war path, unlike if, for example Donald Trump is elected,” the editor continued.
The editorial stance seems to be that while there is a preference for Clinton over Trump, neither candidate would do much to benefit the African continent.
