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.
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.