There is no power vacuum – State House

State House has dismissed as incorrect the assumption that the presidential election petition before the Constitutional Court has created a power vacuum in the country.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda says there has never been a situation where a power vacuum has ever been created by the outcome of a general election.

Mr. Chanda says the design of the republican constitution is that the incumbent republican President has to hand over the instruments of power to the president-elect after an election.

He has told a media briefing at State House today that this means that if President Edgar Lungu is the incumbent, he is supposed to hand over to himself being the president-elect.

Mr. Chanda says President Lungu has however held back from doing this and being sworn as republican President to allow the presidential election petition before the Constitutional Court to be heard.

He adds that President Lungu still remains the Commander In-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Mr. Chanda further states that President Lungu is also performing his Executive powers as Head of State which includes protect the republican constitution which he swore to protect.