By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has claimed that he is the one who persuaded the outgoing Zambian President Edgar Lungu to concede defeat.

Lungu lost to his long time rival Hakainde Hichilema in the last week’s presidential elections.

Posting on Twitter this Thursday, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, George Charamba, said Mnangagwa persuaded Lungu not to dig in but surrender power to his rival.

“Upon arrival, His Excellency briefed his supporters on the just-ended SADC. For the first time, he disclosed that he phoned the outgoing Zambian President, President Edgar Lungu, to persuade him to make way for the winner, President-Elect, Hichilema, to secure peace in the country and region,” said Charamba.

According to Charamba, Mnangagwa revealed this while addressing Zanu PF supporters on arrival in Mutare on Thursday morning.