Former Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President Eddie Mwitwa has confirmed that the inauguration for President-elect Hakainde Hichilema will be held next week Tuesday and that it is expected that some people who served under President Lungu will naturally tender in their resignations or have their contracts terminated.
Mwitwa said according to the constitution, the inauguration must happen on the first Tuesday,seven days after the declaration of the winner. He said this week, President Edgar Lungu is still [legally] the President and head of state of the Republic of Zambia until President-elect Hakainde Hichilema is sworn in.
“The constitution specifically says that the president-elect will be sworn in on the first Tuesday,seven days after the declaration of the winner of the presidential election”, he said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Mwitwa said President Lungu is still president only for the transition period and cannot make any appointments adding that he is just preparing to handover the instruments of power.
He said that in the unlikely event that there was a state of emergency, President Lungu would be entitled to exercise executive powers to deal with the situation. Mwitwa explained that President-elect Hichilema cannot do anything until he is sworn in as President of the Republic of Zambia. Mwitwa added that President Lungu’s term will come to an end in the next seven days.
He mentioned that not much can be expected from President Lungu in terms of governance decisions during this period. Mwitwa noted that there will be no petition in the constitutional court since outgoing president Edgar Lungu has conceded that President-elect Hakainde Hichilema has won the election.
The former LAZ President further stated that President-elect Hichilema will start constituting his cabinet, therefore the country will hear of various appointments from next week.
