•PRESIDENT Lungu (right) talks to American Ambassador to Zambia Eric Shultz during the annual greeting ceremony for diplomats accredited to Zambia held at State House yesterday. Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has assured the nation and diplomats accredited to Zambia that the country will conduct the August 11 general elections in a peaceful and democratic manner.
Mr Lungu said the Government was committed to upholding the principles of democracy and good governance that Zambia was traditionally known for.
“As such, coupled with the peace-loving nature of the Zambian people, I can confidently say that we are looking forward to yet another democratic and peaceful electoral process,” he said.
The President was speaking yesterday at State House in Lusaka at the annual greeting ceremony for the diplomatic community in Zambia.
He called on the international community to continue rendering support towards the country’s democratic development.
Mr Lungu was happy with the support rendered to Zambia in 2015, and that the international interactions at various levels translated into strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations.
He said the country participated at various international fora, including the hosting of the African Union (AU) Committee of 10 Heads of State meeting and attending the United Nations climate change conference in Paris, France.
President Lungu said that Zambia achieved many milestones last year with one of them culminating in his signing into law the amendments to the Constitution on January 5, this year.
The country also faced economic challenges when it was not spared from the global economic slowdown, which manifested through low copper prices, which adversely impacted the Zambian Kwacha.
President Lungu said he was happy that the Kwacha had regained stability in response to timely interventions.
The country had, however, continued to experience the El Nino effects, bringing inconsistent rainfall and consequently causing an acute energy crisis.
President Lungu said the Government had put in both short and long-term mitigation measures to handle the energy crisis as well as the economy.
Some of the measures are importing power, increasing capacity in power generation projects, construction of solar plants, suspending selected capital projects, as well as reducing expenditure.
The Government this year remained determined to continue reducing poverty levels, fighting child marriages and participating in the fostering of common UN and AU goals.
On the African front, President Lungu said he was concerned with the disturbances in Burundi and other countries in the Great Lakes Region and was hopeful that the differences would be resolved soon.
Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia Arve Ofstad said, on behalf of the diplomats, that they were confident that Zambia would yet again hold democratic elections.
Mr Ofstad said 2016 was a challenging year as well as an interesting one.
He said he had taken note of the Government’s request for support during the elections.
Mr Ofstad also said the diplomats had observed that the President was making various efforts to deal with the economic challenges, adding that they were also pleased that Mr Lungu was fighting early marriages.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba said yesterday was an important day on the calendar of the President as it gave him an opportunity to interact and share views with the diplomats.