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Zambia leader dismisses power vacuum reports

Xinhua, August 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambian President Edgar Lungu's office on Tuesday dismissed reports that there has been a power vacuum in the country following a petition challenging his re-election.

The main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has petitioned the Constitutional Court to nullify Lungu's re-election in the August 11 polls, citing malpractices in the vote count.

The country's constitution stipulates that Speaker of the National Assembly should act as president if there is a petition challenging the declaration of a presidential winner.

Lungu has refused to step aside, forcing the opposition party to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the matter.

But Amos Chanda, presidential spokesperson said Lungu was in charge and that there was no vacuum as all the government departments have continued operating smoothly.

He told reporters at a press briefing held at State House that Lungu was still president and leader of the armed forces, adding that he has the constitutional mandate to president over national matters, including maintaining peace and order.

He said the government decided to suspend the inauguration of the present-elect because Lungu respects the constitution and wanted the court to decide on the petition.

Lungu was declared winner of the August 11 general elections after getting 1,860,877 votes while his main challenger Hakainde Hichilema of the UPND got 1,760,347. Endit