Presidency of Edgar Lungu: Difference between revisions
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The '''presidency of Edgar Lungu''' began at 10:00 CAT on January 25, 2015, when [[Edgar Lungu|Lungu]] became the [[List of Presidents of Zambia|6th President of Zambia]]. Lungu was a Defence Minister at the time of his victory over [[UPND]] Pres [[Hakainde Hichilema]] in the [[Zambian presidential election, 2015|2015 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=President Edgar Lungu’s Inauguration in Pictures|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/01/25/president-edgar-lungus-inauguration-pictures/|publisher=Lusaka Times|accessdate=9 September 2016|author=Admin |date=25 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lungu declared President|url=http://www.zambiawatchdog.com/lungu-declared-president/|publisher=Zambia Watchdog|accessdate=9 September 2016|author=Admin |date=25 January 2015}}</ref> | The '''presidency of Edgar Lungu''' began at 10:00 CAT on January 25, 2015, when [[Edgar Lungu|Lungu]] became the [[List of Presidents of Zambia|6th President of Zambia]]. Lungu was a Defence Minister at the time of his victory over [[UPND]] Pres [[Hakainde Hichilema]] in the [[Zambian presidential election, 2015|2015 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=President Edgar Lungu’s Inauguration in Pictures|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/01/25/president-edgar-lungus-inauguration-pictures/|publisher=Lusaka Times|accessdate=9 September 2016|author=Admin |date=25 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lungu declared President|url=http://www.zambiawatchdog.com/lungu-declared-president/|publisher=Zambia Watchdog|accessdate=9 September 2016|author=Admin |date=25 January 2015}}</ref> | ||
==First presidential term (2015-2016)== | |||
Lungu was sworn in as President of Zambia on 25 January 2015 at the [[National Heroes Stadium]] in the capital [[Lusaka]].<ref>Matthew Hill, [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-25/edgar-lungu-sworn-in-as-president-of-zambia-in-lusaka.html "Zambian Ruling Party's Edgar Lungu Inaugurated as President"], Bloomberg, 25 January 2015.</ref> | |||
The following month, Lungu forced the head of the country's central bank out of office and promised lower interest rates. He appointed [[Inonge Wina]] as Zambia's first female Vice-President.<ref>Matthew Hill,[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-13/zambian-president-names-denny-kalyalya-as-central-bank-governor-i63nj3ws "Zambia Central Bank Chief Replaced as President Vows Lower Rates"], Bloomberg, 13 February 2015.</ref> | |||
In March 2015 Lungu collapsed while holding a speech commemorating International Women's Day in [[Lusaka]]. After spending a short while in a Zambian hospital he had an operation for his narrowed [[oesophagus]] in Pretoria, South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31795526 |title=Edgar Lungu collapse: Zambian president 'needs treatment abroad' |publisher=BBC News |date=9 March 2015 |accessdate=3 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/zambia-lungu-surgery-idUSL6N0WG02620150314 |title=Zambia's president recovering after surgery in South Africa |publisher=Reuters |date=14 March 2015 |accessdate=3 January 2016}}</ref> | |||
Lungu commuted the death sentences of 332 prisoners to life in prison on 16 July 2015 and condemned the massive overcrowding at the [[Mukobeko]] prison, calling it "an affront to basic human dignity".<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/16/us-zambia-prison-idUSKCN0PQ18M20150716 "Zambian president gives death row inmates life sentences"], Reuters, 16 July 2015.</ref> | |||
In October 2015, Lungu ordered a national day of prayer in hopes of preventing further damage to the economy. Top religious and political officials participated, and other public events were cancelled.<ref>[http://www.rt.com/news/319018-zambia-national-prayer-currency/ "‘God have mercy on currency’: Zambia holds national prayer day to hold Kwacha from record drop"], RT, 18 October 2015.</ref> | |||
==Second presidential term (2016-)== | |||
Lungu ran for reelection in the [[Zambian general election, 2016|2016 election]], which turned out to be a rematch of the [[Zambian presidential election, 2015|2015 presidential election]] between him and [[Hakainde Hichilema]] of the [[United Party for National Development]]. Lungu won the election with 50.32% of the vote, thus avoiding a run-off and also increasing his margin of victory over Hichilema to 100.530 votes or 2.72%. Hichilema refused to concede defeat after the announcement of official results and filed a case before the Constitutional Court, asking for the results to be nullified due to irregularities. The court dismissed the case on 5 September 2016 and Lungu will be inaugurated for a full five-year term of office on 13 September. | |||
==Policies== | ==Policies== | ||
===Economy=== | ===Economy=== | ||
===Foreign policy=== | ===Foreign policy=== | ||
==Elections== | ==Elections== | ||
===2015 elections=== | ===2015 elections=== | ||
Revision as of 05:23, 10 September 2016
The presidency of Edgar Lungu began at 10:00 CAT on January 25, 2015, when Lungu became the 6th President of Zambia. Lungu was a Defence Minister at the time of his victory over UPND Pres Hakainde Hichilema in the 2015 presidential election.[1][2]
First presidential term (2015-2016)
Lungu was sworn in as President of Zambia on 25 January 2015 at the National Heroes Stadium in the capital Lusaka.[3]
The following month, Lungu forced the head of the country's central bank out of office and promised lower interest rates. He appointed Inonge Wina as Zambia's first female Vice-President.[4]
In March 2015 Lungu collapsed while holding a speech commemorating International Women's Day in Lusaka. After spending a short while in a Zambian hospital he had an operation for his narrowed oesophagus in Pretoria, South Africa.[5][6]
Lungu commuted the death sentences of 332 prisoners to life in prison on 16 July 2015 and condemned the massive overcrowding at the Mukobeko prison, calling it "an affront to basic human dignity".[7]
In October 2015, Lungu ordered a national day of prayer in hopes of preventing further damage to the economy. Top religious and political officials participated, and other public events were cancelled.[8]
Second presidential term (2016-)
Lungu ran for reelection in the 2016 election, which turned out to be a rematch of the 2015 presidential election between him and Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development. Lungu won the election with 50.32% of the vote, thus avoiding a run-off and also increasing his margin of victory over Hichilema to 100.530 votes or 2.72%. Hichilema refused to concede defeat after the announcement of official results and filed a case before the Constitutional Court, asking for the results to be nullified due to irregularities. The court dismissed the case on 5 September 2016 and Lungu will be inaugurated for a full five-year term of office on 13 September.
Policies
Economy
Foreign policy
Elections
2015 elections
2016 elections
See also
- Timeline of the presidency of Edgar Lungu
- Speeches of Edgar Lungu
- Edgar Lungu Presidential Center
- List of people pardoned by Edgar Lungu
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Matthew Hill, "Zambian Ruling Party's Edgar Lungu Inaugurated as President", Bloomberg, 25 January 2015.
- ↑ Matthew Hill,"Zambia Central Bank Chief Replaced as President Vows Lower Rates", Bloomberg, 13 February 2015.
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in ...ribunto/includes/engines/LuaCommon/lualib/mwInit.lua at line 23: bad argument #1 to 'old_ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ "Zambian president gives death row inmates life sentences", Reuters, 16 July 2015.
- ↑ "‘God have mercy on currency’: Zambia holds national prayer day to hold Kwacha from record drop", RT, 18 October 2015.
