Story by Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
HARARE – PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa this Thursday signed the book of condolences at the Zambian Embassy in Harare following the passing on of their former President, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. President Mnangagwa reflected back to the days when they were both students in Zambia, with Dr Lungu being his junior.
The relationship between Dr Lungu and President Mnangagwa goes beyond politics and dates back to the 1970s when they were both enrolled at the University of Zambia where they studied law.
”Besides being presidents, we were students together at law school, he is really my college mate, there is a lot of history between me and him and several other Zambian leaders and we were together, of course, he was my junior,” President Mnangagwa said.
President Mnangagwa also spoke about how Dr Lungu envisioned a United SADC bloc that championed development.
“We have lost one of our illustrious leaders in the region he was committed not only to provide leadership to the people of Zambia but to the rest of the region, he was one of us, he was a man who had foresight for the development and collaboration between SADC countries, we worked together very well,” he said.
Dr Lungu served as Zambia’s 6th president between 2015 and 2021.
Burial arrangements for Dr Lungu are yet to be announced.
