Republican President Edgar Lungu has congratulated his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa on his re-election as President following the July 30th 2018 elections.
In a letter of congratulations yesterday, President Lungu said Mr. Mnangagwa election victory is a true testament of the confidence bestowed in him by the Zimbabwean people to steer the nation on a path of economic, political and social prosperity.
“I wish to convey on behalf of the government and the people of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, heartfelt congratulations to President Mnangagwa on his election, President Lungu said.
The President says Zambia and Zimbabwe are key members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and are therefore very crucial to the stability of the region.
“In this regard, I urge you to speedily overcome any past-election skimmers to enable the country quickly return to a peaceful political discourse as an all-inclusive society.
‘On our part as Chair of the SADC Organ Troika on politics, Defence and Security , Zambia stands ever ready to contribute to any progressive efforts to move Zimbabwe forward”, the President added.
The Republican President assured his Zimbabwean counterpart of Zambia’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the long standing relations and cooperation shared between the two countries continue to flourish for the mutual benefit of the two peoples, the region and the African continent at large.
This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda yesterday.
Meanwhile. President Lungu has urged the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) authorities to ensure that the on-going electoral process was all-inclusive so that the outcome of the December 23, 2018 lections delivers a credible outcome that must unite the country.
As a friendly neighbor and in-coming Chair of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security, Zambia is working with others in the region to help enhance prospects of a peaceful and credible electoral process in the DRC.
According to the same statement, the Republican President met with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary Dr. Stergomena Tax yesterday who briefed him on the regional security situation and his role as Chair of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Security, and Defence which he assures on August 17, 2018.
The Organ Troika oversees among others election observation missions’ among member states.
Dr. Tax is hopeful that authorities in Zimbabwe would pursue civil means to address any disagreements arising out of the just ended elections.
On the DRC, she stated that SADC is monitoring the electoral process and that President Joseph Kabila has given assurances that he will respect the Constitution which does not allow him to run for another term of office.
