ZAMBIA/NIGERIA: Zambian and Nigerians congratulate newly-elected US president Barack Obama

Record ID: 235114

  • Title: ZAMBIA/NIGERIA: Zambian and Nigerians congratulate newly-elected US president Barack Obama
  • Date: 6th November 2008
  • Summary: MAN WATCHING SCREEN SHOWING TELEVISION COVERAGE OF U.S. ELECTIONS MOCK VOTING BOOTH MAN EXPLAINING TO ZAMBIANS HOW TO TAKE PART IN MOCK VOTE MOCK BALLOT PAPER HAND DROPPING PAPER INTO BALLOT BOX MAN VOTING ZAMBIAN MOCK POLL RESULTS LUSAKA RESIDENT MARRIAN MUNYINDA STANDING BETWEEN MCCAIN AND OBAMA CUT OUTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARRIAN MUNYINDA, LUSAKA RESIDENT, SAYING: "He is going to make America have the right place in the world, not as a dictator but as a facilitator." LUSAKA RESIDENT MUMBA MALUBWA DRINKING BEER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MUMBA MALUBWA, LUSAKA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I mean several are the times that African needs are overlooked by the United States administration. At least this time round we have somebody from our own land who is going to address our concerns, concerns about HIV/AIDS, concerns about the economy, concerns about politics and many other social vices." HAND HOLDING GLASS AND PHOTOS OF OBAMA AND MCCAIN MEMBER OF THE OBAMA SUPPORT GROUP "SILICON VALLEY FOR OBAMA" JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS SHOUTING: "OBAMA, YES WE CAN" (SOUNDBITE) (English) JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS, MEMBER OF THE OBAMA SUPPORT GROUP "SILICON VALLEY FOR OBAMA", SAYING: "I am visiting Africa right now for work. I am from California, the United States. I am an Obama supporter and have been for almost two years because I believe he is the sort of president who is going to help make America, America again. He is going to restore our standing in the world community. I also believe in his ideals as a democrat: universal health care, pulling us out of the war in Iraq, and the other policies that democrats believe in." VARIOUS OF BOARD WHERE PEOPLE ARE WRITING MESSAGES TO OBAMA MEN CHATTING NEAR OBAMA PICTURE
  • Embargoed: 21st November 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEU4HNT31U5NWBHG4IS1HO06XC
  • Story Text: Zambian and Nigerian supporters of Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States, celebrate his election win.
    Zambians in the capital, Lusaka joined millions of people across the world in celebrating Illinois Senator Barack Obama's historic win. Obama defeated Republican candidate John McCain to become the first black U.S.
    president.
    Many spent the night watching the elections live on big screens and even though the gathering was non-partisan most people say they are supporters of Obama.

    "He is going to make America have the right place in the world, not as a dictator but as a facilitator," said Marrian Munyinda, a Lusaka resident.
    There was also a mock election where people voted for the candidates of their choice.
    Many Africans hope Obama's victory will mean more U.S. support for local development and an improvement in living conditions on the world's poorest continent.

    "Several are the times that African needs are overlooked by the United States administration. At least this time round we have somebody from our own land who is going to address our concerns, concerns about HIV/AIDS, concerns about the economy, concerns about politics and many other social vices," said Mumba Malubwa, another Lusaka Resident.
    Julie Lythcott-Haims is an American living in Zambia. A member of the "Silicon Valley for Oboma support group", Julie believes Obama will restore America's image around the world.

    "I am visiting Africa right now for work. I am from California, the United States. I am an Obama supporter and have been for almost two years because I believe he is the sort of president who is going to help make America, America again. He is going to restore our standing in the world community. I also believe in his ideals as a democrat: universal health care, pulling us out of the war in Iraq, and the other policies that democrats believe in," Lythcott-Haims told Reuters.
    Many mock voters also wrote messages to Obama, which will be given to the U.S. embassy in Zambia.
    In Nigeria, Obama supporters stayed up all night to watch the outcome of the election.
    Members of the "Nigeria-Obama Initiative", the majority of whom are politicians serving in the Lagos State legislature, converged at the city hall to show their support for Obama.
    The supporters watched the results on international broadcast networks like BCC, CNN and Sky TV to make sure they tallied.
    Danje Yakub, a political activist, said that Nigerian leaders should learn from the U.S. poll and curb election malpractices that have plagued the oil-rich nation over the years.

    "It is not like Nigerian elections, where you can predict the negative. The negative that once you have a party that has the capacity to rig elections, has the capacity to control the police, to hire thugs, then you'll win. That's the Nigerian situation. But in this situation, it is the power of the personality, the power of debate, your policy, your views of how you want to run the American society," said Yakub.
    Obama is the son of a black father from Kenya and white mother from Kansas, and his election triumph marks a milestone in U.S. history.
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