Police in Zambia have warned ex-president Edgar Lungu in opposition to going for runs in public, telling the previous chief of the south-central African nation that his exercises represent “political activism” and are breaking the regulation.
Lungu, 66, who served because the nation’s president from 2015 to 2021, has been instructed by police that the common Saturday runs he has been holding with members of the general public and supporters of his Patriotic Entrance celebration ought to be thought of political occasions, and that he might want to acquire regulation enforcement’s permission earlier than setting out on any related group runs sooner or later.
Based on the BBC, police within the capital of Lusaka—the place Lungu has been venturing out on his runs—stated the Patriot Entrance’s failure to inform them of “public gatherings or demonstrations … quantities to a breach of the regulation. That is to make sure public security.” The assertion added a “procession of a former head of state ought to be accomplished along with his safety element and devoid of political activism.”
Nevertheless, Lungu’s lawyer, Makebi Zulu, instructed the BBC that police have been overstepping their bounds by demanding he ask their permission to go operating in public, and that any additional motion taken by police can be met with a authorized response.
“Mr. Lungu has been jogging since time immemorial and his motivation has by no means been to contravene the regulation,” stated Zulu.
The lawyer additional instructed AFP that “it’s the police who’re violating the regulation. No regulation states that you simply require a police allow for such occasions.” He additionally appeared to trace that political rivals are concerned within the police crackdown on Lungu’s runs, saying “it is a recipe for anarchy and the police ought to cease listening to politicians.”
Lungu introduced his retirement from political life after dropping the 2021 presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema of the United Get together for Nationwide Growth. The group runs and different latest public appearances by the previous chief has fuelled hypothesis that Lungu could also be making a play for the presidency within the nation’s normal election in 2026.
