Court clears Lungu to run again

Zambia's highest court on Friday ruled that President Edgar Lungu can stand in presidential elections due in 2021 without breaching a constitutional two-term limit, rejecting an opposition challenge. Lungu's first period in office lasted just 18 months, when he took over after the death of the previous elected President, Michael Sata. He then won election in a disputed vote to a second, full term in August 2016. A SowetanLIVE report notes that his supporters argued that the Constitution says a President is only deemed to have served a term if he is in office for at least three years of the full five-year term. Constitutional Court President Hildah Chibomba said the ruling by the seven judges of the court had been unanimous. 'Our answer is that (Lungu's first) presidential tenure of office ... cannot be considered as a full term,' Chibomba said.