GBENGA OLAWEPO-HASHIM

Last Sunday, Hakainde Hichilema (HH) emerged the President-elect of Zambia after five failed previous attempts at the poll.

The one they call “cattle boy”, being the second largest cattle rancher in Zambia, was congratulated by the incumbent, Edgar Lungu, who lost to him. This is a triumph of vision and purpose, consistency and perseverance as we have consistently advocated on this wall.

That fateful day, David Thomas Zgambo wrote on HH’s wall “The lesson President Elect Hakainde Hichilema teaches us is that Dreams don’t always come True without a lot of failures; 23+ years of unsuccessfully fighting for a Better Zambia – he never quit despite the many trials and tribulations from the heavy hand of an authoritarian regime – his perseverance has been one for the books and now the dawn of a new era is upon us. What HH has achieved here is a physical representation of a Dream. My fellow Patriots, HH has shown us that Success comes when we believe in something that is bigger than ourselves.

On that Sunday, without knowing the election result in Zambia, as the news broke open only yesterday, we wrote “It can never be too late for your good dreams to come through.”

It is not only in politics that this counsel is relevant, even in your small business, your career, your little efforts will become great success if you are persistent. The Bible says do not despise the Days of little beginning.

Great brands like Louis Vuitton started in a small shop on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris in 1854, after successive generation of excellent management, it is the world richest brand, valued at 130Billion US Dollars.

You do not have to choose cement manufacturing like Dangote or sell diesel like Otedola; Your creative mark and innovation can make you succeed and surpass the achievement of Emeka Echeruo, the Nigerian born and Kings college Lagos trained Hedge fund manager who sold his company Hopshop.com to Apple for 1billion US Dollars.

HH went to Birmingham for his masters not too far from Buckingham where I did my masters in the United Kingdom.

As I congratulate him and his family, I pray for God’s guidance for him so that his tenure can bring the desired development that Zambia needs.

And, as many of you out there, who have had some failed starts in your vision, keep working hard and be prayerful. With consistency, endurance and perseverance, you will get there!