I am under virtual house arrest—Edgar Lungu
I am under virtual house arrest—ECL
LUSAKA, 24.05.24 SMART EAGLES
Sixth President of Zambia Edgar Lungu has told the BBC World Service that he is ´under virtual house arrest´ under the administration of his successor Mr. Hakainde Hichilema.
“The moment I step out of my house to take a simple jog, I am stopped and warned that the action has potential of disturbing peace,” said Dr. Lungu.
He gave a myriad of examples starting from when he was denied exit out of the country to attend an international conference, banned from visiting church and recently forcibly driven out of the central town of Kabwe.
He was also barred from flying out of the country to receive routine medical attention by Mr. Hichilema´s government.
“On my way to the Copperbelt province I stopped by to make a courtesy at the office of Catholic Bishop Rt. Rev. Clement Mulenga,” Lungu said, “but police burst into the office and said ´I had no right to make a courtesy call´ without informing them. My movements are limited against the constitution.”
Things came to a head when President Lungu during a church service said Zambia needed an early election due to rampant dissatisfaction of many Zambians that go to sleep hungry on the watch of President Hichilema.
The Zambian police force responded that the sixth President would be required to visit police and explain what he meant by the ´early election,´ call but Lungu has remained defiant saying he hasn’t broken the law.
The police have since issued another statement saying they have ´no desire´ to ambush President Lungu after opening 25 dockets against him that include alleged treason but did not rule out the possibility of an arrest.
“They have stripped me of everything a former head of state is entitled starting from a chef, state security just everything,” president Lungu said, “I just have a rag tag security team at my house that I pay for using my own resources. They wrote me to withdraw everything because I decided to return to active politics.”
Human Rights Watch has bemoaned the ever deteriorating human rights conditions in Zambia calling for action to stop the slide.
Source: BBC