{The man tipped to succeed Michael Sata, Zambia’s president who died in office, has dismissed reports he is an alcoholic with end-stage renal disease as \u201cmyths\u201d and challenged opposition leaders to a boxing match to prove he is fit. } <\/p>\n
Edgar Lungu, the ruling Patriotic Front party\u2019s candidate in Tuesday\u2019s presidential by-election, denied that whisky was his \u201cAchilles\u2019 Heel\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI drink but I don’t have a problem with drink. I am as sober as a priest when I come to do my job,\u201d he said. He conceded that, having now lost two presidents, Zambians had a right to be concerned but said the suggestion he was anything other than healthy was \u201cmalicious\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI wish I was in a boxing ring to take on the fitness of some of these people,\u201d he said. \u201cNever has a candidate been so vilified as I have.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mr Lungu, 58, at present the defence and justice minister, was selected after weeks of bitter infighting following Mr Sata\u2019s death in London in October to lead the PF\u2019s bid to stay in power in Africa\u2019s second-largest copper producer, one of the world\u2019s fastest growing economies.<\/p>\n
he lawyer and married father-of-six has been quick to tap into Mr Sata\u2019s working class support base and persuaded former president Rupiah Banda to switch parties to campaign for him, thereby delivering the support of at least one key province and considerable campaign funds. <\/p>\n
Mr Lungu’s nearest rival is Hichilema Hakainde, a millionaire cattle rancher who has promised to row back the PF\u2019s controversial decision to triple mining royalties. <\/p>\n
Analysts believe the election will be close-run, but the PF, which has served three years of a five-year term, could have the edge because of a \u201csympathy vote\u201d. <\/p>\n
Speaking to the Telegraph at his home in central Lusaka in his first major interview since his nomination, Mr Lungu predicted his party would double its share of the vote and promised: \u201cBy tomorrow morning, we will be looking for new suits.\u201d<\/p>\n
{{Telegraph UK}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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