Zambian President Edgar Lungu collapsed in the capital Lusaka during commemorations of the Defence Force Day on Sunday.
Secretary to the Cabinet Simon Miti confirmed the incident but assured the public and the international community that Lungu is fit “and has continued to discharge his duties”.
“Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu this afternoon experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating at the 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration and Investiture Ceremony,” Miti said in a statement .
He added: “The President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens and the international community that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties as Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.”
Lungu is preparing for a potentially bruising presidential election set for August 12 in which he is seeking another five-year term in office.
He has been in power since January 2015 when he succeeded late President Michael Sata who died in October 2014.
Despite opposition from civl rights groups Zambia’s Constitutional Court on Friday ruled that President Lungu is eligible to run for another term in general elections set for August 12.
The court dismissed an application by the Legal Resources Foundation, historian and political commentator Sishuwa Sishuwa and Chapter One Foundation to have Lungu disqualified from running for another term on the grounds that he has already served the mandatory two terms of office.
This was the third time that Lungu’s eligibility to stand in this year’s elections has been questioned.
The court has ruled in the president’s favour in the previous two court cases.
JN/APA