{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 “myths” and challenged opposition leaders to a boxing match to prove he is fit. }
Edgar Lungu, the ruling Patriotic Front party’s candidate in Tuesday’s presidential by-election, denied that whisky was his “Achilles’ Heel”.
“I drink but I don’t have a problem with drink. I am as sober as a priest when I come to do my job,” 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 “malicious”.
“I wish I was in a boxing ring to take on the fitness of some of these people,” he said. “Never has a candidate been so vilified as I have.”
Mr Lungu, 58, at present the defence and justice minister, was selected after weeks of bitter infighting following Mr Sata’s death in London in October to lead the PF’s bid to stay in power in Africa’s second-largest copper producer, one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
he lawyer and married father-of-six has been quick to tap into Mr Sata’s 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.
Mr Lungu’s nearest rival is Hichilema Hakainde, a millionaire cattle rancher who has promised to row back the PF’s controversial decision to triple mining royalties.
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 “sympathy vote”.
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: “By tomorrow morning, we will be looking for new suits.”
{{Telegraph UK}}
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