Sat, 16 Sep 2017 09:36:46 +0000
as KK attends colourful event…
By Oscar Malipenga & Annie Zulu
A TWENTY-ONE gun salute reverberated as military jets in a right-angled triangle flew past Parliament grounds to symbolise, yet again the official opening of the second session of the 12th National Assembly yesterday.
As usual pomp and splendour characterised the event and President Edgar Lungu arrived at Parliament grounds in style.
His presidential motorcade reflected the kaleidoscopic flushes and arrived at Parliament to a real thunderous welcome as dancers acrobats and choirs competed for the best performance.
Elegantly dressed in a blue suit, President Lungu was received by service chiefs and was immediately led to the presidential podium. This was followed by a 21 gun salute and then a fly past.
President Lungu then inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Zambia Army and he was accorded a 21-gun salute as the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) staged a three-plane fly past.
People of various walks of life assembled and crowded the Parliament buildings as they joined Members of Parliament (MPs) inwitnessing the official opening of the event.
First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda was also present.
Many converged as early as 07:00 hours to secure clear positions on the evergreen lawns of the Parliament grounds.
The wait for the arrival of President Lungu was spiced by performances by drama groups, various traditional dancers and some Patriotic Front (PF) music groups.
At about 10:15 hours, the Presidential motorcade rolled into Parliament grounds as the crowd cheered.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini was at hand to receive the President and later led him inside the National Assembly building.
Hundreds of well-wishers who lined up on the pavement leading to the entrance of the National Assembly building and sang songs of praise as the President in the company of his wife, Esther, confidently walked past them on his way to open the National Assembly.
By then, the invited guests who included mayors and their town clerks, diplomats, Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima with Supreme and High Court judges, service chiefs and Vice-President Inonge Wina had already taken their seats in the National Assembly.
President Lungu and the first lady moved to the foot of the steps of Parliament Building where they were welcomed by the Speaker (Matibini) and escorted to the main entrance to Parliament Building amid traditional music.
After walking halfway, President Lungu and Dr Matibini posed as the traditional dance troop shouted “You are welcome to the House of law” then they proceeded to the Speaker’s chambers where the Head of State signed the Speaker’s Parliamentary visitors’ book.
He later proceeded to address the nation on the floor of the House.
