Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu has warned in opposition to jogging in public, with police describing his weekly exercises as “political exercise”.
His outings on Saturday with abnormal members of the general public and Nationwide Entrance supporters attracted loads of consideration.
Longo has been requested to hunt police approval for future operating occasions.
The police order comes amid hypothesis that he’ll bid for the presidency in 2026.
A police assertion stated the Nationwide Police’s failure to alert them about “public gatherings or demonstrations… quantities to a violation of the regulation. That is to make sure public security.”
She added, “The procession of the previous head of state have to be accompanied by safety and devoid of any political exercise.”
However the former president’s lawyer, Makebo Zulu, advised the BBC that he would proceed jogging with out notifying the police.
Zulu threatened to take authorized motion in opposition to the federal government if the previous president, 66, was banned from exercising on Saturdays.
“Mr. Lungu has been a jogger since time immemorial, and his motive was by no means to interrupt the regulation,” Zulu stated.
That is the most recent obvious restriction on the actions of the previous chief, who served as president from 2015 to 2021.
Some commentators stated President Hakainde Hichilema’s authorities was utilizing the tough ways he criticized throughout his a few years in opposition.
Mr. Longo just lately The government filed a lawsuit against him after preventing him from traveling to South Korea to attend a conference. He later withdrew the case.
The Patriotic Entrance additionally stated that the previous president was prevented from touring on a medical journey regardless of acquiring permission from the Cupboard Workplace.
The BBC contacted Dwelling Affairs Minister Jacob Mwembo for remark however has not but acquired a response.
Though he stated he would retire from politics after shedding the 2021 election, Lungu has revived his public picture in current months.
He’s extensively believed to be planning to run in elections inside three years, hoping to capitalize on rising anger over rising gas and meals costs.
Hichilema gained in 2021 with a big majority hoping to deal with the nation’s financial issues.
He had beforehand run for elections 5 occasions with out success.