Zambian leader visits Mugabe

Zambian President Edgar Lungu left for Zimbabwe on Friday to pay a courtesy call on his Zimbabwean counterpart after winning last month's presidential election.

The 58-year-old Zambian leader's one day visit to the neighboring nation was to pay a traditional courtesy call on 90- year-old President Robert Mugabe, who is also chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the new African Union (AU) chairperson, according to a statement released by presidential spokesperson Amos Chanda.

The Zambian leader is scheduled to immediately return for his retreat to the eastern part of the country after holding bilateral talks with his Zimbabwe counterpart, the statement added.

Lungu has since delegated his vice, Inonge Wina, to act as president in his absence.

Lungu won last month's presidential election necessitated by the death of President Michael Sata. He is expected to be in office for the next 18 months until general elections next year.

Meanwhile, the Zambian leader has said he was in a hurry to reposition Zambia in international affairs and has since called for robust performance from all the countries envoys serving in foreign countries. "I expect very high performance from all those serving in the foreign service and will not tolerate misconduct and laziness from anyone. We are in a hurry to deliver," he said. Endi