 Years later, he was appointed as Vice-President by President Levy Mwanawasa in October 2006, following the latter's re-election.He took over Mwanawasa's presidential responsibilities after Mwanawasa suffered a stroke in June 2008, and following Mwanawasa's death in August 2008, he became acting President.As the candidate of the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), he narrowly won the October 2008 presidential by election, according to official results.