Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe has arrived in Lusaka for the inauguration of Edgar Lungu and his running mate Inonge Wina slated for Heroes Stadium in the capital.
President elect Edgar Lungu will be sworn as republican president along with his running mate Inonge Wina as Vice President.
President Mugube landed at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 5pm today, September 12, 2013 ahead of the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday.
Speaking on arrival, President Mugabe congratulated Lungu and said he will have a peaceful five year term. He said Zambia and his country were twins saying whatever happens in one affects the other.
President Mugabe has maintained close ties with the Patriotic Front leadership dating from the time of late president and party founder Michael Sata.
Another ally of Lungu expected to attend his inauguration is Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni. He is expected to fly in on Tuesday morning.
Other dignitaries who arrived today include two Vice presidents of Malawi and Tanzania.
Speaking to Journalists at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Vice President of Malawi Saulos Chilima said the presence of Malawi at the inauguration signifies the warm relationship the two neighbouring countries enjoy.
Mr. Chilima further said Malawi’s attendance of President Lungu’s the inauguration ceremony will strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan was welcomed by Sports Permanent Secretary Agnes Musunga.
Zambia will for the first time in her history swear in a President and Vice President arising from the running mate system.
President Lungu and his running mate Inonge Wina won the August 11 presidential elections after polling over 1.8 million votes against 1.7 million plus votes for closest rival Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) who has disputed the results.