Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the smooth transition of power from the outgoing President Edgar Lungu to the President Elect Hakainde Hichilema clearly demonstrates how Zambia’s democracy has deepened overtime.
President Mnangagwa said the smooth transition of power should serve as a lesson to many African countries especially within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Speaking to journalists shortly after arriving at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka ahead of Mr. Hichilema’s inauguration ceremony today, the Head of State said the SADC region was proud of Zambia’s record of holding peaceful elections and smooth transition of Governments since it got its independence in 1964.
He further said the country’s roots of democracy have been entrenched deep in the political dispensation.
“This is now the seventh President of the Republic of Zambia and the transition through out has been very smooth so we are very proud as the region and in particular ourselves as a friend to Zambia,” he said.
He said the willingness of outgoing President Lungu to acknowledge Mr. Hichilema’s victory was a sign that Zambia’s democracy has deepened.
He said the two countries being siamese twins would continue enjoying the bilateral relations that had been in existence from time in memorial.
United States Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa Dana Banks urged Zambians to continue holding the new Government accountable to ensure it lives up to the campaign promises it made to the Zambian people.
Picture: Abigail Javier/EWN
