Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Saturday congratulated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election and inauguration as that country's fifth president since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji, who represented Lungu at the inauguration ceremony and delivered the congratulatory message, said the Zambian leader was happy with the way elections were conducted in South Africa.

Lungu, he said, has paid glowing tribute to South Africans for conducting a peaceful and democratic election, adding that South Africa had demonstrated that its multi-party democracy was growing.

According to the Zambian leader, South Africa had set a good example to other countries in the southern African region in the conduct of elections.

The Zambian leader however expressed happiness that most of the elections held recently in the region have been peaceful and successful, according to a release.