Thread by @lgfranceschi

In an especially troubled week, while the world's media was transfixed by the chaos unfolding in Afghanistan, another country where power was changing hands, and where people feared the worst, managed to turn a potential tragedy into a triumph. #Zambia

That country is #Zambia, which kept its promise to hold peaceful elections & avoid the bloodshed which many had predicted. Ahead of campaigning, an official peace pledge was signed on 14 July by the ruling Patriotic Front and leaders of opposition parties.

Everyone hoped for the best but it was a contest fraught with danger - a highly polarized political environment; two candidates for whom losing was not an option - the incumbent @EdgarCLungu President Lungu & his main challenger @HHichilema.

@HHichilema, a successful businessman, was at a distinct disadvantage. Imprisoned several times & prevented from campaigning, he was starved of media attention. President Lungu, however, had a huge home advantage and the result seemed a foregone conclusion.

The political tensions were well understood by the @commonwealthsec which had worked hard to promote dialogue, build trust and bridge the yawning gap between the two sides. @PScotlandCSG had negotiated HH release from prison in 2016.

Institucional & personal trust had been broken between the two rival sides. But both @EdgarCLungu and @HHichilema trusted her. She listened and understood the predicament of both leaders and knew something had to be done before the elections - before it was too late.

In June, @commonwealthsec achieved a nearly impossible feat; encouraging @CCMG_Zambia & @zcid_zambia to work together on a platform for peace with @LawAssocZambia, & others. Kofi S traveled to Zambia & started work with them key Zambian stakeholders on what became a peace accord

The peace accord was launched by @PScotlandCSG on 1 July, and signed on 14 Jun. As campaigning got under way, leaders bound by the pledge would have to account for any reckless statement or behaviour. The support of the UN RC @coumbagadio_ZM was key, wonderful!

The @Commonwealth enlisted the good offices of a great leader - @jmkikwete, former President of #Tanzania. A true peace maker, he arrived in Lusaka to chair the Commonwealth Observer Group.

@jmkikwete is a humble, determined, accessible, intelligent, strategic & joyful man. He is a peacemaker, a bridge builder. I learnt amazing lessons from this true “professor of negotiation and peace”. We were @ Chawama when @EdgarCLungu voted & @ kabulonga where @HHichilema voted

In the end, HH carried the day by a huge margin. Zambians had spoken.
Behind the scenes, tension was mounting with the risk of violence. Leaders were agitated. @jmkikwete did what I called “brilliant WhatsApp diplomacy”… followed by in-person meetings.

The two principals agreed to meet at RB home. For anyone conversant with Zambian politics this was a true miracle. Both ECL & HH spoke of “my brother”, acknowledged @ZambiaElections results & called cadres to stop violence. They took photos. Zambia was a true democracy!

One day, not too soon though, with the permission of @jmkikwete, a great African statesman, I hope to put down the memories of these amazing weeks; filled with tension, worries, threats, joys, and the final satisfaction of having helped a country to live in peace and democracy.

Only a few know how much stress “we chewed.” And how we couldn't have triumphed without the help and deep concern of people of goodwill - Zambians first & also a number of ambassadors & HCs
#Zambia stands proudly as One Zambia, One Nation, a dream KK always cherished & protected