By JAMES KUNDA

•GOSPEL artiste, Kings Mumbi ‘Malembe Malembe’ (in blue jacket) joins the Defence and Security choir during the signing of the Constitutional Amendment Bill by President Edgar Lungu at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE

A CLOUD of jubilation hovered over the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka yesterday as President Edgar Lungu assented to the amended Constitution Bill.
Zambians from all walks of life thronged the 50,000-seater stadium to witness the landmark event which was the culmination of years of deliberations on the document.
Proceedings were spiced up with performances by renowned gospel artiste Kings Malembe Mumbi, the Amayenge Asoza Ensemble and the Defence and Security Choir.
Vice-President Inonge Wina, first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini and service chiefs were among multitudes present at the event.
Cabinet ministers and their deputies, Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Davies Chama, members of the diplomatic corps, chiefs, the clergy and Members of Parliament (MPs) were also in attendance.
The Head of State in the company of First Lady Esther, arrived at the stadium at around 14:00 hours in an open van escorted by the Zambia police.
Mr Lungu’s entrance into the venue sent the crowd into wild ululations as the people caught a glimpse of the motorcade which drove around the stadium once before the First couple alighted.
The Head of State proceeded to the saluting dais for the national anthem which played simultaneously with the 21-gun salute and the three-jet fly past.
President Lungu then inspected a guard of honour before proceeding to his seat for the commencement of the programme.
Prior to the Presidential address, the gathering watched a clip of President Lungu’s inauguration as the country’s sixth Head of State on January 24, last year, at which he promised to deliver a new Constitution.
The clip beamed on the digital screen on one end of the stadium thrilled the crowd as it was an indication that Mr Lungu had lived up to his word.
The cultural presentation of the document by Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula, who placed it on a table for the President to sign, was another highlight of the event that thrilled attendants.
The time that everyone was waiting for arrived at 15:33 hours when the President took to the podium where a table was laid for him to assent the Bill into Law.
Ms Justice Mambilima, Dr Matibini, Dr Simbyakula and Secretary to the Cabinet Rowland Msiska had also stepped onto the podium as witnesses to the assent.
The signing of the document was accompanied by unending cheer from the crowd as the people clapped and whistled.