Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) – Edgar Lungu took on Sunday the oath of office as President of Zambia in Lusaka becoming Zambia’s sixth head of state following his victory in Tuesday’s by-election.
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party won with a narrow victory in elections held 20 January, following the death of President Michael Sata who died last year on October 28.
Acting President Guy Scott, at the inauguration ceremony also witnessed by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is also chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), symbolically handed over the instruments of power to President Lungu.
Also in attendance at the ceremony held at Heroes Stadium in the capital, Lusaka, were Foreign Ministers of Angola and Malawi, Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda, former president Rupiah Banda and former first lady Christine Kaseba Sata.
In his inaugural address, President Lungu pledged to deliver a new constitution before the holding of the general election in 2016 and disclosed that he was immediately transferring renowned lawyer, Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula to Ministry of Justice to ensure that the new constitution was enacted.
“I will be making changes to the Cabinet; I will re-appoint some ministers and others I won’t. But I want to tell the new ministers that we have only one year until the next elections,” Lungu said, as he pledged his commitment to address poverty.
“I will grow jobs to give you hope,” the new head of state said.
President Mugabe commended Zambia for holding a free and fair election, saying that the maturity exhibited by all stakeholders was a source of pride for SADC and the rest of Africa.
“I am confident that you will succeed in keeping this country as One Zambia, One Nation,” Mugabe said.
