Lungu is Zambia’s new President

Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front is Zambia’s sixth Republican President after winning a tight election.

Mr Lungu beat ten other candidates in Tuesday’s presidential election.

Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda, who is the presidential election returning officer, declared Mr. Lungu as duly elected president last evening after he amassed 807, 925 votes against his closet rival UPND President Hakainde Hichilema who polled 780, 168 votes, a difference of 27,757 votes.

Mr. Lungu had been leading in the presidential race from the first day election results started trickling in.

He takes over from late Republican President Michael Sata who died in office in October last year in a London hospital

Other candidates in the race were FDD’s Leader Edith Nawakwi who got 15, 321 votes, followed by MMD president Nevers Mumba who polled 14, 609, UNIP President Tilyenji Kaunda who got 9, 737, Erick Chanda of Fourth Revolution 8, 054, Elias Chipimo of NAREP 6, 002.

Others are Miyanda Geoffrey of Heritage got 5, 757, Daniel Pule of CDP got 3, 293 votes, Sondashi Ludwig of FDA 2, 073 and Peter Sinkamba of Green Party got 1, 410 votes.

Meanwhile, there was widespread jubilation in Lusaka few minutes after Justice Chibesakunda declared Mr. Lungu winner of the elections.