Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa Tuesday swore in Lupando Mwape as vice president.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the State House, Mwanawasa said Mwape was all the time loyal to him even during the time when he was dropped from the position of communication minister in last year's cabinet reshuffle.

"I later appointed him as deputy minister of Northern province.He didn't feel he was demoted. On the contrary, he was very grateful to be given a chance to stay in the government," he said.

Mwanawasa hoped the new vice president can be a real chief adviser to him.

"Because you are number two, so you should advise me on all theissues," he said.

Mwanawasa made an announcement at a press conference Monday that he removed Nevers Mumba from the position of vice president and replaced him with Lupando Mwape, deputy minister of Northern province.

The president said he made the decision because of Mumba's not regretting for his recent remarks against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

He said Mumba's remarks seriously marred the cordial relationship existed between the two nations.

When Mwanawasa was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, Mumba made a statement without consulting the president,saying the DRC was using the country's border to finance the opposition politicians of Zambia.

After coming back, Mwanawasa apologized to DRC for the vice president's imprudent statement.

Source: Xinhua