Ex-leader of Zambia barred from ‘political’ jogging

Former President Edgar Lungu of Zambia has been told not to jog in public because the police consider it to be a form of political activism.

On Saturdays, he goes for runs with regular people and supporters of his political party, which has been getting a lot of attention.

Mr Lungu has been instructed to get permission from the police for his upcoming jogging events.

The police have issued a command because there are rumors that he might run for president in 2026.

A police statement said that the PF did not tell them about any “public meetings or protests. Breaking the law. This is to make sure people are safe.

This means that when a former leader is being honored, their security team should be present and there should not be any involvement of political activities.

However, Makebu Zulu, the lawyer for the previous president, said to the BBC that he will keep running without informing the police.

Mr Zulu said he will go to court if the government stops the ex-president, who is 66 years old, from exercising on Saturdays.

“According to Mr. Zulu, Lungu has been jogging for a very long time. He has never had the intention of breaking the law. ”

This is the newest rule on what the previous leader can do. They were the president from 2015 to 2021.

Some people are saying that President Hakainde Hichilema’s government is using forceful methods that he strongly opposed when he was not in power.

Mr Lungu recently sued the government because he claimed they prevented him from going to South Korea for a conference. He changed his mind and decided not to continue with the case.

The PF also mentioned that the ex-president was not allowed to go on a medical trip even though he had asked permission from the cabinet office.

The BBC tried to talk to Home Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu to get his opinion, but he has not answered yet.

Mr Lungu had previously promised to quit politics after losing the 2021 election, but he has been making a comeback in the public eye lately.

Many people think that he is getting ready to compete in the elections in three years. He hopes to take advantage of the increasing anger caused by expensive fuel and food.

Mr Hichilema won the election in 2021 by a big margin because people believed he could solve the country’s financial problems.

He tried to become elected five times in the past, but he didn’t succeed.