Mutharika delegates Chilima to attend Edgar Lungu’s inauguration

President Arthur Peter Mutharika has delegated Vice President Saulos Chilima to Tuesday’s inauguration of Zambia President Edgar Lungu who won the just ended elections.

A statement from Office of Vice President says Chilima will leave on same Tuesday and return the following day.

The function will be held at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, a function that promises fanfare and pomp.

Lungu beat his closest rival Hakainde Hichilema by a narrow margin, a result that was challenged by the latter through legal means at both the Constitutional and High Court. The intense legal battle did not change the outcome of the result. and both chambers threw out Hichilema’s case.

The delegation by President Mutharika is more reason to dispel long-held rumours that the Vice President is sidelined in government assignments especially foreign ones.

To the contrary Chilima has attended close to 20 foreign assignments under direct delegation from President Mutharika.