Hakainde Hichilema vs Nayef Hawatmeh

Hichilema founded the UPND after leaving the United Liberal Party. The party became the main opposition to the Patriotic Front government, positioning Hichilema as a leading opposition figure.

Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason after his convoy allegedly failed to give way to President Edgar Lungu's motorcade. He spent four months in prison before the charges were dropped, drawing international criticism.

Hichilema won the presidential election with 59% of the vote, defeating incumbent Edgar Lungu. The election was widely praised as free and fair, marking the first peaceful transfer of power to an opposition candidate since 1991.

Hichilema's government implemented austerity measures, debt restructuring negotiations with international creditors, and anti-corruption campaigns. The program aimed to stabilize Zambia's economy after years of high debt and inflation.

Hawatmeh split from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) to establish the DFLP, a Marxist-Leninist Palestinian faction. The DFLP advocated for a secular, democratic state in Palestine and became a significant player in the Palestinian national movement.

Hawatmeh's DFLP was among the first Palestinian factions to publicly endorse a two-state solution, accepting a Palestinian state alongside Israel. This position marked a significant shift from the PLO's earlier rejection of Israel and influenced later peace negotiations.

Hawatmeh and the DFLP initially opposed the Oslo Accords but later engaged in dialogue. The DFLP's stance evolved, and Hawatmeh participated in discussions about Palestinian self-governance, though the faction remained critical of the final agreement.

Hawatmeh led the DFLP to formally renounce armed struggle and focus on political and diplomatic efforts. This decision aligned the faction with the Palestinian Authority and marginalized it among more militant groups, reducing its operational capacity.