State House has announced that President Edgar Lungu yesterday left for South Africa to seek medical attention.

In a press statement yesterday, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda stated that President Lungu was going to South Africa for an urgent consultative meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa on the electoral process in Congo DR.

He however added that, the President would thereafter attend hospital for his “routine annual medical review”.

“His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia will this afternoon (yesterday), leave for South Africa for an urgent consultative meeting with his South African counterpart President Cyril Ramaphosa on the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After the summit on the DRC, the President will attend hospital for his routine annual medical review,” Chanda announced.

Meanwhile, Chanda stated that in his absence, President Lungu had designated Vice-President Inonge Wina to act as President until he returned.

Sources told News Diggers, Monday, that the Head of State had not been enjoying good health in the past few days and sought to be treated in South Africa urgently. The sources added that State House was going to suspend all appointments with the President until about January 21, leaving his availability for the January 18th national dialogue event in question.