Inauguration of Edgar Lungu
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| Date | 13 September 2016 |
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| Location | Heroes Stadium, Lusaka |
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President-elect: Edgar Lungu Vice President: Inonge Wina |
The inauguration of Edgar Lungu as the 6th President of Zambia took place on 13 September 2016. This was the second time Edgar Lungu took the oath after he first took office on 25 January 2015. Edgar Lungu took the oath alongside Inonge Wina as Vice-President of Zambia. The day of the inauguration was set as a public holiday in Zambia and Monday September 12 as a half working day.
Lungu won the controversial August 2016 presidential election, receiving 50.35% of the vote. The election received various criticisms from the opposition party and the opposition petitioned the High court to block the inauguration. However, the high court rejected the application.
The official swearing-in ceremony took place at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka from 0800 hours (UTC) on 13 September 2016. Lungu arrived at the swearing in venue with his wife to a roaring crowd at 0835 (UTC). A priest delivered a prayer to commence the official proceedings. Under the observation of the Chief Justice of Zambia, Irene Mambilima, at 0900 (UTC) Lungu took his oath of office. Lungu then addressed the nation.
Country Men and Women,
My primary duty this morning is to enjoin everyone of you, my dear compatriots, to join me in bowing our heads to thank God almighty for his omnipresent mercy and compassion in guiding us through the delicate electoral process that ended generally peaceful. Our new mission must now be to give ourselves the ability and confidence to be masters in our own destiny.
We must begin to conclusively wean our economy from the current copper mining dominated mono-economy. In this new dispensation we must promote and sustain agriculture to become one of the main drivers of our diversification programme.
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