The former President of Zambia Edgar Lungu, has been banned from his public jogging events after the police described his workouts as “political activism”.
According to the police, his Saturday runs with ordinary members of the public and supporters of his Patriotic Front (PF) party were attracting a lot of attention.
The former head of state was ordered to notify police in advance when planning to jog in future, “to ensure public safety and traffic management,” read part of the statement by police.
Moreover, the police in a statement said the former president’s exercise sessions, while escorted by members of his Patriotic Front (PF) party and without his security officers amounted to “unlawful assembly”.
“Mr Lungu should strictly adhere to security protocols and should refrain from any form of political activism,” police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said.
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A police force statement further added that the Patriotic Front’s failure to alert them of “public gatherings or demonstrations amounts to a breach of the law,” adding that the move is to ensure public safety.
Ex-President Lungu’s Take
However, in a close rejoinder, Lungu’s Lawyer, Makebi Zulu, noted that the former President does not require a permit to exercise adding that the police are violating the law.
“He does not require a police permit. It’s the police that are violating the law, no law states that you require a police permit for such events,” said Zulu.
He added that the police issue is a recipe for anarchy and the police should stop listening to politicians.
“This is a recipe for anarchy and the police should stop listening to politicians,” said Zulu.
On Monday, Lungu attended a funeral service in Lusaka and was mobbed by his supporters, said the lawyer.
The police order comes amid speculation that he will seek to recapture the presidency in 2026.
At the same time, the concerns come days after Lungu took the government to court after he was allegedly blocked from travelling to South Korea for a conference. He, however, later withdrew the case.
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Political Speculations
Lungu was in power for six years before he lost the 2021 presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema.
In addition, the former President had announced his plans to retire from politics after he lost the 2021 presidential elections.
However, he has recently been reviving his public profile, building up speculations of a comeback.
Hichilema won in 2021 by a large majority on the hope that he would tackle the country’s economic problems. He had previously unsuccessfully run for elections five times.
