President Hichilema [Photo: Citi Newsroom]
Zambia’s opposition Socialist Party has attacked its President Hakainde Hichilema over his frequent trips abroad.
This is after Hichilema on Wednesday made his ninth foreign trip since taking office in August.
Communication from his office says the trip is a two-day visit to South Africa, for talks with his counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Socialist Party which questioned the trip described it as a courtesy call.
“What exactly is the purpose of President Hichilema’s trip to South Africa? Is the meeting with President Ramaphosa a mere cover-up for his private pursuits?” wrote the Socialist Party president Fred M’membe on his Facebook page.
President Hichilema has however explained the move to visit South Africa in a series of Facebook posts.
He noted that he is holding bilateral talks with Ramaphosa centered around development, regional peace and security among others.
The leader also confirmed to be taking part in the launch of a book written by one Greg Mills, entitled Expensive Poverty, Why Aid Fails And How It Can Work.
Meanwhile, some social media users dated back when Hichilema used to criticize his predecessor Edgar Lungu’s foreign trips while he was still in office.
The current opposition leader Andyford Banda tweeted that he and the current President Hichelema had previously both condemned Lungu’s administration for his trips abroad.