It’s so sad really sad that Zambian President @HHichilema Hakainde Hichilema has decided to make Zambia a Puppet Country and a Western Agent of Western Imperialists against SADC @SADC_News Region, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema abstain from voting on the U.N. resolution to end the war in Ukraine and demand Russia to withdraw its troops. Zambia voted in favor of the resolution, along with 140 other countries, on February 24, 2023. Zambia was one of the two African countries, along with Botswana, that supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and condemned Russia’s aggression. The other four African countries that participated in the vote – South Africa, Congo, Senegal and Uganda – abstained. China and India also abstained, while Russia voted against.
The reason why Zambia voted against Russia is clear, zambia have been influenced by its bilateral relations with Ukraine and other Western countries. Zambia has diplomatic ties with both Ukraine, as well as the USA,UK and European Union However, Zambia may have felt more aligned with Ukraine’s interests and values, or may have wanted to show solidarity with the international community. Alternatively, Zambia may have been concerned about the implications of Russia’s invasion for its own security and stability in the region.
The vote by Zambia was welcomed by the Ukrainian ambassador to South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana, Liubov Abravitova, who appealed to the Zambian government to suspend its diplomatic ties with Russia and ask President Vladimir Putin to cease fire in her country. She also thanked Botswana for voting in favor of the resolution and expressed her puzzlement over South Africa’s abstention. She said that the Zambian voice was important and called on world leaders to speak against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine¹.
On the other hand, Russia’s deputy Head of Mission in Zambia, Dmitry Yudin, said that his country did not expect Zambia to vote against its invasion of Ukraine at the U.N. General Assembly.He said that Russia was disappointed by Zambia’s decision and hoped that it would not affect their bilateral cooperation². He also defended Russia’s actions as a response to the threat posed by NATO’s expansion and interference in Ukraine’s internal affairs.
China, which has close economic ties with both Russia and Zambia, has agreed to condemn the attack and cut economic ties with Russia.