{Zambia Defence Minister Edgar Lungu was sworn in on Sunday as the country\u2019s sixth president.}<\/p>\n
Thousands of Zambians Sunday filled the national stadium in the capital Lusaka to witness the ceremony, joined by the country\u2019s past presidents Rupiah Banda and Kenneth Kaunda, the first leader of independent Zambia.<\/p>\n
Mr Lungu, 58, narrowly won Tuesday\u2019s election with 48.33 per cent of the vote against his closest rival of the United Party for National Development Hakainde Hichilema who got about 46 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u201dll fight your poverty, not my poverty,\u201d Mr Lungu said at a ceremony attended by SADC chairperson Robert Mugabe, diplomats and other government representatives.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was held at the Chinese built National Heroes Stadium almost filled to capacity in the capital Lusaka and broadcast live on state television.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to hand you a new Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n
He announced the appointment of veteran lawyer, who was Home Affairs Minister in the late Michael Sata\u2019s government, Ngosa Symbyakula as Justice Minister and tasked him to deliver the constitution.<\/p>\n
He promised to announced his new Cabinet on Monday.<\/p>\n
A new charter has eluded Zambia since independence and establishing of many constitution making process that have amounted to nothing.<\/p>\n
Mr Lungu is regarded as man of the people with a simple personality. He has promised \u201cstability, economic growth and prosperity\u201d.<\/p>\n
He faces a challenge of creating employment for the thousands of unemployed youth who propelled Sata to power in a 2011 election that saw the defeat of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy after 20 years in power. Sata died in October.<\/p>\n
President Mugabe praised former interim leader Guy Scott for managing the transition peacefully. Dr Scott was Sata\u2019s Vice-President, but could not contest the election because his parents were Scottish.<\/p>\n
Mr Lungu will serve the remainder of Sata\u2019s term until a general election scheduled for September 2016.<\/p>\n
He saluted his predecessor, and said he was \u201chumbled to be trusted by the people of Zambia\u201d to hold his position.<\/p>\n
Mr Lungu also spoke out against the threat of tribalism in the country of more than 14 million people.<\/p>\n
\u201cTribalism is a threat to national security and peace. We need to shape the direction of our country, and together we can shape it,\u201d he said to applause.<\/p>\n
Despite the rigging concerns raised by the opposition, several leaders and institutions have lauded Zambia for conducting a peaceful election.<\/p>\n
African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma applauded the people of Zambia for \u201corganising an exemplary, successful and peaceful election\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said the vote \u201csets the pace for the remaining 17 elections planned to take place on our continent in 2015\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Mugabe said he was confident that Lungu will \u201csucceed to keep Zambia united\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne Zambia, one nation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
LOW PROFILE<\/p>\n
Analysts say, however, that Lungu has a low public profile and no proven track record, despite being a founding member of the party.<\/p>\n
\u201cEdgar Lungu does not have the charisma,\u201d said political commentator Neo Simutanyi. \u201cUntil Michael Sata died, no one knew him. His performance in government didn\u2019t stand out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lungu, who sports a trim beard, graduated with a law degree from the University of Zambia in 1981 and also underwent training as a military officer.<\/p>\n
He cut his political teeth at the United Party for National Development (UPND), but in 2001 he quit to form the PF with Mr Sata.<\/p>\n
But, his rival Mr Hichilema, a self-made businessman on his fourth run at the presidency, said the election had not been fair from the start, and condemned violence against his backers ahead of the vote.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have experienced widespread violence against our supporters and party members throughout the campaign, as well as deep irregularities in the counting process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
By Daily Nation & Agencies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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