Zambia ex-president banned from ‘political’ jogging

Zambia's former President, Edgar Lungu, has been warned against his public jogging events, with police describing his workouts as "political activism".

Zambian President Edgar Lungu attends the inauguration day of the Agriculture and Commercial fair on August 5, 2017 in Lusaka. - Lungu invoked emergency powers last month, increasing police powers of arrest and detention, and blaming opposition parties for a string of arson attacks. (Photo by SALIM DAWOOD / AFP) (Photo by SALIM DAWOOD/AFP via Getty Images)

Zambia’s former President, Edgar Lungu, has been warned against his public jogging events, with police describing his workouts as “political activism”.

The police in a statement said Mr Lungu’s exercise sessions while escorted by members of his Patriotic Front (PF) party and without his security officers amounted to “unlawful assembly”.

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”.

“Mr Lungu should strictly adhere to security protocols and should refrain from any form of political activism,” police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said.

This comes a few days after Mr Lungu took the government to court after he was allegedly blocked from travelling to South Korea for a conference. He later withdrew the case.

After being in power for six years Mr Lungu lost the 2021 presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema. He is widely believed to be planning a comeback in the 2026 elections.

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