President Edgar Lungu has been officially adopted as the Presidential candidate of Zambia’s ruling party in the 2021 general elections.
Lungu was confirmed by the Patriotic Front (PF) at a ceremony held at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka, the country’s capital, by presenting him with a certificate of adoption as flagbearer for president.
Lungu was unopposed as he was re-elected head of PF at the party’s national congress in April. The vote is scheduled for August 12.
The party’s national secretary, Davies Mwila said the Zambian leader had followed all the provisions of the party constitution and that his adoption was final.
He has also received sharp criticism from the opposition which argued that he is not eligible to stand for election having served constitutionally mandated two terms.
Lungu’s first term in office lasted only one year and six months when he took over after the death of the previously elected president, Michael Sata.
He then won re-election in a disputed vote to a second, full term in August 2016.