No power vacuum in the country – Amos Chanda

State House says there is no power vacuum in the country as incumbent President Edgar Chagwa Lungu who is also President-elect is still in charge.

There has been calls from some sections of society for Lungu to hand over instruments of power to the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini following the successful filing in of a petition before the Constitutional Court by Hakainde Hichilema and Geoffrey Mwamba challenging his declaration as winner of the August 11 polls.

But Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda argues that President Lungu does not cease to be President until he hands over the instruments of power to the President-elect.

Chanda told Journalists at a Press Briefing at State House today that there has never been a situation in Zambia where the outcome of an election leaves a power vacuum. He said the incumbent President is always the custodian of the instruments of power which he exercises with the full support of all security services and the Civil Service.

Chanda said that all Government wings including the Civil Service were operating normally and that there was no cause for apprehension.

‘’The Central Bank continues to be fully in charge of the monetary policy whilst the Secretary to the Treasury is overseeing the fiscal policy side of the economy,’’ Chanda said.

He added that the President has assured the financial services industry that there would be no disruptions in market operations.

The Special Assistant to the President also said the President is disappointed with some sections of society who have continued to issue statements to undermine the court process and the integrity of the State in general.

He said the President wants all parties to let the due process of the court to take place without undue pressure.