George Mpombo, who was Zambia’s Minister for Defence at the time, was also pictured kneeling before former President, the late Levy Mwanawasa
The image has drawn widespread criticism among Zambians and other commentators, with many of them terming it “excessive deference” and insisting that the President is not God or Jesus.
Laura Miti, a social activist, said: “How the President could sit there and accept that kind of veritable self-flagellation from the Minister, I cannot understand. What is going on in your head as you speak to a Minister grovelling before you like that?”
This is not the first time a Zambian Minister has knelt before the country’s President. The former Defence Minister, George Mpondo, was also pictured kneeling before former President, the late Levy Mwanawasa.
Here is a video report of President Lungu’s swearing-in ceremony after he won re-election last year.
