Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has received a cautionary notice regarding his public jogging sessions, with the police categorizing his workouts as “political activism.”
In an official statement, the police asserted that Mr. Lungu’s exercise routines, conducted with the accompaniment of members from his Patriotic Front (PF) party and without his security personnel, constituted an “unlawful assembly.”
The former head of state has been instructed to inform the police in advance of his intentions to jog in the future “to ensure public safety and proper traffic management.”
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga emphasized that Mr. Lungu must strictly adhere to security protocols and abstain from engaging in any form of political activism.
This development follows Mr. Lungu’s recent legal action against the government, alleging that he was prevented from traveling to South Korea for a conference. Subsequently, he withdrew the case.
After holding office for six years, Mr. Lungu faced defeat in the 2021 presidential election, losing to Hakainde Hichilema. There is widespread speculation that he is contemplating a political comeback in the 2026 elections.