At least 4 African heads to attend Lungu’s inauguration ceremony

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At least 4 African heads to attend Lungu’s inauguration ceremony

4:55 CAT | 12 Sep 2016

Zambia's President Edgar Lungu speaks at a rally in the capital Lusaka, Zambia January 19, 2015. REUTERS/Rogan Ward/File Photo - RTX2E6PG

File photo / Edgar Lungu

Zambian opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), led by Hakainde Hichilema has vowed that it would not be part of the swearing in ceremony of the country’s president Edgar Lungu on Tuesday, reported The Post.

The UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka said that his party would instead exhaust all avenues to have the swearing in ceremony halted at the Supreme Court.

The UPND had filed a motion against Lungu and his running mate, Ininge Wina along with the Electoral Commission of Zambia following their August 11 election loss, but their case was thrown out by the country’s constitutional court last week on Monday.

This reportedly led the party to launch an appeal at the High court, but it was also struck off the roll last Friday.

Katuka said that the UPND would be appealing last Friday’s ruling by the High Court at the Supreme Court.

He further described the recent decisions by the country’s courts as a serious collapse of democracy and lack of respect for governance in Zambia.

“There is a complete collapse of democracy which is dangerous for the country. We don’t have respect for institutions of governance that we have created for ourselves and this is how dictatorship comes in,” Katuka was quoted as saying.

According to Lusaka Times, at least Four foreign heads of state and four vice presidents were expected to attend Lungu’s inauguration ceremony.

Among the expected dignitaries were Zimbabwe’s embattled president Robert Mugabe, recently elected Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, Botswana’s president Ian Khama as well as John Magufuli of Tanzania.

Source: News 24