By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba, has desperately tried to defend his principal’s open and deliberate silence in congratulating the incoming Zambian President, Hakainde Hachilema.

Mnangagwa sent his congratulatory message this evening nearly 24 hours after Zambia’s opposition leader had been declared winner of that country’s last Thursday polls, beating his (Mnangagwa) close ally, Edgar Lungu.

Hichilema won 2 810 777 votes against the outgoing President Edgar Lungu’s 1 814 201.

Hichilema is set to become the southern African country’s 7th President after winning last Thursday Presidential poll.

Posting Mnangagwa’s cooked congratulatory message to HH, on his Jamwanda Twitter handle, Tuesday evening, Charamba said Mnangagwa signed the letter Monday before he left for a SADC meeting.