PRESIDENT-ELECT Emmerson Mnangagwa has invited former Zambian leader Edgar Lungu to his inauguration on Monday, amid tensions between Harare and Lusaka.
Mnangagwa, who won the plebiscite last month, will be sworn in as Zimbabwe’s president for the second and last time on Monday.
The 80-year-old has issued an invitation to his buddy Lungu, as tensions between him and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema are said to be rising.
Hichilema, who is also the head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) institution on politics, defence security, and security cooperation, was a target of the ruling party Zanu PF following last month’s national elections.
Hichilema as part of his duty as the SADC chairman on politics, defence security and security cooperation deployed an observer mission to Zimbabwe led by Zambia’s former vice president Nevers Mumba.
The mission delivered an adverse preliminary report which discredited Zimbabwe’s general elections as flawed and failing to meet regional standards.
This, rattled Zanu PF and government ministers who jostled to castigate Mumba, labelling him a puppet of opposition.
The SADC preliminary report was cemented by the opposition which is disputing last month’s elections results.
As other leaders are congratulating Mnangagwa for his 52.6 percent victory, Hichilema has reserved his message.
Hichilema, a once opposition leader in Zambia, is a close ally of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa.
Zimbabwean embassy at the behest of government in a letter invited Lungu – Hichilema’s predecessor – for the Inauguration ceremony.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe presents its compliments to Former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the Sixth President of the Republic of Zambia and has the honour to extend an invitation from H.E. the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, H.E. President E.D. Mnangagwa to attend his inauguration on 4 September, 2023 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe.
“The late notification is sincerely regretted.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe avails itself of this opportunity to renew to Former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu the assurances of its highest consideration,” read the letter.
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