Zambia’s newly-elected President Edgar Lungu on Monday appointed Inonge Wina as the country’s first woman vice president.
The new Zambian vice-president is seen as a unifying person in the governing party who stood with Lungu when the party was divided into factions following the death of President Michael Sata last October.
“She stood up for the party. She is a unifying factor; she is a mother and she will bring a breath of life to the government,” Lungu said.
Lungu, who has appointed only eight ministers of his 22-member cabinet, has retained ministers from the previous administration led by Sata.
Alexander Chikwanda retained his position as finance minister while Harry Kalaba stayed as foreign minister.
Others who have retained their positions are health minister Joseph Kasonde, tourism and arts minister Jean Kapata while Ngosa Simbyakula has moved from home affairs to the ministry of justice and has been replaced by Davies Mwila, the new home affairs minister.
The Zambian leader also appointed some staff in his office, who includes Amos Chanda, special assistant for press and public relations, Kaizer Zulu as special assistant for political affairs and Emmanuel Chilubanama as permanent secretary at State House.
The Zambian leader has since called on his colleagues to get to work.