Hakainde Hichilema is a Zambia

Zambia

Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....

n politician and the President of the United Party for National Development

United Party for National Development

The United Party for National Development is a liberal political party in Zambia.At the 2001 legislative elections, held on 27 December 2001, the party won 23.3% of popular votes and 49 out of 159 seats...

 (UPND). He replaced Anderson Mazoka

Anderson Mazoka

Anderson K. Mazoka was a Zambian politician and President of the United Party for National Development , a leading opposition party....

 after an interparty election, organized by functioning party president Sakwiba Sikota, which followed Mazoka's death in May 2006. He is also President of the opposition alliance United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Personal History

Hichilema was born in Hachipona village, Monze West, in Chief Hamusonde's area. Hichilema is married to former office manager Mutinta. Together, they have three children, daughter Miyanda, and sons Habwela and Chikonka.

Professional history

• Equator Advisory Services, assistant consultant, 1986
• Coopers & Lybrand, restructuring Indeco, 1986
• Director, Corporate Advisory, 1989
• CEO, 1994-1998
• Coopers & Lybrand changed its name to Grant Thornton.

Directorships

Hichilema sat on several boards of directors (which he gave up when he assumed party presidency in 2006)

Chairman of the board

• Sun International
• Greenbelt Fertilisers Ltd
• Media Trust Fund
• Export Development Programme

Director

• Zambia Investment Board
• Seedco Zambia
• African Life Financial Services (Z) Limited
• Zambezi Nickel or Bermuda Limited (Bermuda)
• West Lake Investments (Mauritius)

Board Member

• Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Zambia Business Forum
• seven other boards

In the 2006 election, Hakainde Hichilema was the presidential candidate of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ran against incumbent president Levy Mwanawasa

Levy Mwanawasa

Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption...

 of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy

Movement for Multiparty Democracy

The Movement for Multi-party Democracy is a political party in Zambia. Originally formed to oust the previous government, MMD controlled an absolute majority in parliament between 1991 and 2001, when its past leader, Frederick Chiluba was president of the country...

 and Patriotic Front

Patriotic Front (Zambia)

The Patriotic Front movement is the Zambian ruling political party. It is currently the most widely supported political party in Zambia. The Party was formed by Michael Sata as a breakaway party of the MMD in 2001. This was after the then-president Frederick Chiluba nominated Levy Mwanawasa as the...

 candidate Michael Sata

Michael Sata

Michael Chilufya Sata is a Zambian politician who has been the fifth President of Zambia since 23 September 2011. He leads the Patriotic Front , a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty...

. Hichilema received the endorsement of former President Kenneth Kaunda

Kenneth Kaunda

Kenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...

. The election was held on September 28, 2006, and Hichilema took third place with about 25% of the vote.

Hichilema ran as the UPND candidate in the October 2008 presidential election

Zambian presidential election, 2008

A presidential election was held in Zambia on 30 October 2008 following the death of the incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa on 19 August 2008; the election had to be called within 90 days of the date of death...

, which was called following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa. He came out 3rd with 19.7% of the vote.

Political pact

In June 2009, Hichilema's party (UPND) formed a pact with Michael Sata

Michael Sata

Michael Chilufya Sata is a Zambian politician who has been the fifth President of Zambia since 23 September 2011. He leads the Patriotic Front , a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty...

's PF to contest the 2011 election together. However, indecision on the pact candidate, deep mistrust and accusations of tribalism from both sides resulted in the collapse of the pact in March, 2011.