Tag: Edgar Lungu

Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has claimed he is “practically under house arrest,” alleging that police are plotting to detain him “for no reason.”

Lungu reported that police were preparing to arrest him at night from his home in Lusaka, the capital.

This development follows Lungu’s recent remarks suggesting a possible change in government before the 2026 general election.

According to local media, Police Chief Graphael Musamba indicated that Lungu would be summoned to clarify his statement.

Lungu, who announced his return to politics last October, had his retirement benefits revoked by the government. He retired from politics after losing the 2021 presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema.

Since then, he has accused the government of targeting him and his Patriotic Front (PF) party to thwart his political comeback.

Additionally, Lungu’s wife, former First Lady Esther Lungu, faces corruption charges related to theft of motor vehicles and title deeds, which she denies.

The government has refuted claims of targeting Lungu, urging him to allow his successor time to fulfill campaign promises.

On Wednesday, Lungu accused the state of subjecting him to various unconstitutional actions since he left office.

He claimed police were under instructions to “ambush me at night, abduct, embarrass, and forcefully detain me like a hardcore criminal”.

“As far as I am aware, I have not committed any crime that would warrant the government, through the police, to start scheming against me in this manner,” Mr Lungu added.

It remains uncertain whether police are still stationed at Lungu’s residence as of Thursday, and the police have not promptly responded to BBC’s requests for comment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsIlio1v_xI

However, the presidency has previously stated that it upholds human rights and does not meddle in police operations.

Attending a church service last Sunday, Mr Lungu warned of a regime change before the next election, saying “a baby can be born before nine months”.

Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa said the government was “carefully studying” Mr Lungu’s remarks, terming them “hair-raising and startling”.

It comes a few days after the police warned that Mr Lungu risked being arrested and prosecuted for “engaging in activities that disrupt public order and safety”.

A crowd of people thronged around him as he walked around the streets of Lusaka two weeks ago, ostensibly to assess the reported high cost of doing business in the city.

In February, the former president asked citizens to call for an early election, accusing his successor of failing to manage the economy.

The former leader was last year warned against jogging in public, as police described his weekly workouts as “political activism”.

Meanwhile, a human rights body has called on the Zambian government to quash the conviction of an opposition official two weeks ago for apparently defaming the president.

Raphael Nakacinda, a senior PF official, was sentenced on 17 May for his 2021 remarks, alleging that President Hichilema had coerced judges into passing judgments favourable to him.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Nakacinda’s 18-month prison sentence would have “a broad chilling effect” on the right to freedom of expression in Zambia.

The Zambian government is yet to respond on the HRW statement.

The Zambian government has revoked the retirement benefits and privileges of former President Edgar Lungu after he announced his return to active politics.

Mr Lungu had previously retired following his defeat by Hakainde Hichilema in the 2021 presidential election.

During his six years in office, Zambia faced severe economic challenges, becoming the most indebted nation in Africa. Lungu’s decision to re-enter politics sets the stage for a contentious presidential race in 2026.

Government spokesman Cornelius Mweetwa confirmed that Lungu had been informed of the immediate withdrawal of his retirement benefits and privileges. According to the law, former presidents who re-enter politics forfeit these entitlements.

As a retired president, Lungu enjoyed benefits such as security personnel, a diplomatic passport, state vehicles, a furnished residence, medical insurance, and funeral expenses. He also had immunity from prosecution.

Mweetwa announced in a press conference that Lungu would now be treated under the law like any other senior citizen of the country, highlighting the loss of special privileges.

Lungu’s return to politics is fueled by the growing dissatisfaction with the ongoing economic difficulties in Zambia under his successor’s leadership. Civil society groups have expressed concerns about the diminishing human rights freedoms in the country.

In his announcement of a political comeback, Lungu stated his intention to defend democracy in the country and save his factionalized former ruling party, the Patriotic Front, from potential collapse. The government has threatened to deregister the party due to leadership disputes.

The government spokesman refuted Lungu’s recent claims that supporters of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) were targeting him.

He described Mr Lungu’s remarks that his life had been threatened as a “mere false alarm”, saying the former leader was as secure “as any other citizen”.

Mr. Lungu has received a caution against engaging in confrontational politics against President Hichilema’s government. In the past month, he was advised to refrain from public jogging, with the police characterizing his weekly workouts as “political activism.”

It remains uncertain whether Mr. Lungu’s immunity from prosecution will be revoked. Zambia’s parliament has previously lifted immunity for two former presidents – Frederick Chiluba in 2002 and Rupiah Banda in 2013.

Certain members of the ruling UPND have been advocating for the removal of his immunity and his prosecution on alleged corruption charges during his presidency. Mr. Lungu has stated that these allegations are politically motivated.

Zambia’s former President, Edgar Lungu, has taken legal action against the government after he was purportedly prevented from traveling to South Korea for a conference.

It is alleged that Mr. Lungu had received an invitation to attend a world peace conference, but as he was preparing to depart, he was denied access to his plane due to a lack of government clearance for the trip.

Mr. Lungu has initiated a judicial review in the Lusaka High Court, where he is contesting the government’s decision to obstruct his travel to South Korea, as indicated in the court documents he has submitted.

His political party, the Patriotic Front (PF), has criticized the government’s alleged actions, deeming them illegal.

“If he is invited and the trip is paid for or he can meet the cost of his own trip and that of his entourage, he doesn’t need to inform governments,” argued Emmanuel Mwamba, the PF’s spokesperson.

Mr. Mwamba stated that the former president had encountered travel restrictions for a medical journey on a previous occasion, even though he had previously sought permission from the cabinet office.

“These draconian and dictatorial actions are a violation of fundamental rights of the former president and have no place in true democracy,” he said.

Mr. Lungu was defeated by the incumbent Hakainde Hichilema in 2021, leading to his loss of power.

Despite publicly declaring his retirement from active politics following his defeat, there is strong speculation that he is considering a return to the political arena and may potentially run in the 2026 elections.