Police in Zambia ban former president from running in public

Police in Zambia have warned ex-president Edgar Lungu against going for runs in public, telling the former leader of the south-central African country that his workouts constitute “political activism” and are breaking the law.

Lungu, 66, who served as the country’s president from 2015 to 2021, has been told by police that the regular Saturday runs he has been holding with members of the public and supporters of his Patriotic Front party should be considered political events, and that he will need to obtain law enforcement’s permission before setting out on any similar group runs in the future.

According to the BBC, police in the capital of Lusaka—where Lungu has been venturing out on his runs—said the Patriot Front’s failure to notify them of “public gatherings or demonstrations … amounts to a breach of the law. This is to ensure public safety.” The statement added a “procession of a former head of state should be done with his security detail and devoid of political activism.”

However, Lungu’s lawyer, Makebi Zulu, told the BBC that police were overstepping their bounds by demanding he ask their permission to go running in public, and that any further action taken by police would be met with a legal response.

“Mr. Lungu has been jogging since time immemorial and his motivation has never been to contravene the law,” said Zulu.

The lawyer further told AFP that “it’s the police who are violating the law. No law states that you require a police permit for such events.” He also seemed to hint that political rivals are involved in the police crackdown on Lungu’s runs, saying “this is a recipe for anarchy and the police should stop listening to politicians.”

Lungu announced his retirement from political life after losing the 2021 presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development. The group runs and other recent public appearances by the former leader has fuelled speculation that Lungu may be making a play for the presidency in the country’s general election in 2026.

posted Thursday September 28th
by Paul Baswick