This is the cover for issue 251 of The Continent. This week’s cover image shows a supporter of Zambian president-elect Hakainde Hichilema wearing an election poster as a tie in Lusaka on 16 August 2021, after his first victory in his bid for the top job. The president was declared winner of the latest election last week, securing a second term, but things are tense. (Photo by Marco Longari/AFP)

The poster has a deep midnight-blue background, creating the feeling of quiet, safety and concentration. At its centre is a small child reading beneath a makeshift shelter built from books. Four large books stand upright like pillars, while another open book rests across the top to form a roof, creating a cosy reading nook. The child lies on their stomach, feet crossed in the air, completely absorbed in a copy of The Continent. Their face is lit by the warm glow of a torch placed on the newspaper, suggesting they are reading late into the night. The books forming the shelter are in shades of blue, purple and teal. One spine reads "Reading is resistance", reinforcing the poster's message that reading and access to information are acts of empowerment. Beneath the illustration is an invitation to subscribe for free via WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or email, followed by The Continent logo.