Zambia’s new president takes up top job after disputed poll

LUSAKA, Sunday 

Zambia Defence Minister Edgar Lungu was sworn in on Sunday as the country’s sixth president.

Thousands of Zambians Sunday filled the national stadium in the capital Lusaka to witness the ceremony, joined by the country’s past presidents Rupiah Banda and Kenneth Kaunda, the first leader of independent Zambia.

Mr Lungu, 58, narrowly won Tuesday’s election with 48.33 per cent of the vote against  his closest rival of the United Party for National Development Hakainde Hichilema who got about 46 per cent.

“I”ll fight your poverty, not my poverty,” Mr Lungu said at a ceremony attended by SADC chairperson Robert Mugabe, diplomats and other government representatives.

The ceremony was held at the Chinese built National Heroes Stadium almost filled to capacity in the capital Lusaka and broadcast live on state television.

“I want to hand you a new Constitution.”

He announced the appointment of veteran lawyer, who was Home Affairs Minister in the late Michael Sata’s government, Ngosa Symbyakula as Justice Minister and tasked him to deliver the constitution.

He promised to announced his new Cabinet on Monday.

A new charter has eluded Zambia since independence and establishing of many constitution making process that have amounted to nothing.

Mr Lungu is regarded as man of the people with a simple personality. He has promised “stability, economic growth and prosperity”.

He faces a challenge of creating employment for the thousands of unemployed youth who propelled Sata to power in a 2011 election that saw the defeat of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy after 20 years in power. Sata died in October.

President Mugabe praised former interim leader Guy Scott for managing the transition  peacefully. Dr Scott was Sata’s Vice-President, but could not contest the election because his parents were Scottish.

Mr Lungu will serve the remainder of Sata’s term until a general election scheduled for September 2016.

He saluted his predecessor, and said he was “humbled to be trusted by the people of Zambia” to hold his position.

Mr Lungu also spoke out against the threat of tribalism in the country of more than 14 million people.

“Tribalism is a threat to national security and peace. We need to shape the direction of our country, and together we can shape it,” he said to applause.

Despite the rigging concerns raised by the opposition, several leaders and institutions have lauded Zambia for conducting a peaceful election.

African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma applauded the people of Zambia for “organising an exemplary, successful and peaceful election”.

She said the vote “sets the pace for the remaining 17 elections planned to take place on our continent in 2015”.

Mr Mugabe said he was confident that Lungu will “succeed to keep Zambia united”.

“One Zambia, one nation,” he said.

LOW PROFILE

Analysts say, however, that Lungu has a low public profile and no proven track record, despite being a founding member of the party.

“Edgar Lungu does not have the charisma,” said political commentator Neo Simutanyi. “Until Michael Sata died, no one knew him. His performance in government didn’t stand out.”

Mr Lungu, who sports a trim beard, graduated with a law degree from the University of Zambia in 1981 and also underwent training as a military officer.

He cut his political teeth at the United Party for National Development (UPND), but in 2001 he quit to form the PF with Mr Sata.

But, his rival Mr Hichilema, a self-made businessman on his fourth run at the presidency, said the election had not been fair from the start, and condemned violence against his backers ahead of the vote.

“We have experienced widespread violence against our supporters and party members throughout the campaign, as well as deep irregularities in the counting process,” he said.

By Michael Chawe and Agencies