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Zambian main opposition leader chooses ex-defense minister as running mate

Xinhua, June 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambia's main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema on Friday ended speculations on his chosen running mate in this year's presidential election when he turned up for the filing of his nomination papers with former defense minister Geoffrey Mwamba.

The opposition leader has since declared that the two wealthy businessmen will use their business acumen to fix the Zambian economy.

Speculation had been rife in recent days over who the opposition leader will pick as his running mate in the August 11 polls, with various names coming out such as former first lady Christine Kaseba Sata.

The two leaders were declared eligible to contest this year's presidential election after officials from the Electoral Commission of Zambia validated their documents at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka, the country's capital where a horde of the party supporters had escorted them.

The opposition leader said Zambia was rich with plenty of natural resources but lacked proper leadership to manage the economy properly.

Eight presidential candidates have successfully filed to contest for the presidency but the main contenders are incumbent President Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front and Hichilema.

Lungu filed his nomination papers on Thursday and vowed that he will emerge victorious. Endit