Edgar Lungu: Zambia controversy over house arrest of former president

Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu claimed he was “effectively under house arrest” despite police saying their monitoring of his movements was “solely for his own safety”.

“The police stop you, you can’t leave the house without being stopped by them, they take you back home,” Mr Lungu told BBC’s Newsday programme.

“I am facing the consequences of returning to politics and I am prepared for it,” he added.

Police have denied allegations that they were planning to ambush the former leader at night.

He had retired from politics after losing the presidential election to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021.

The former leader has accused the government of victimising him and other members of his Patriotic Front (PF) party to prevent him from returning to politics.

His wife, former first lady Estelle Lungu, is accused of corruption linked to a car and title deed theft case, which she denies.

Mr Lungu told the BBC on Friday that police had grounded him, barred him from undergoing medical check-ups and stopped him from going for his morning jog.

“Recently I was flying to a conference and they dropped me off,” he added.

Police chief Grafel Musamba said on Thursday it was normal procedure to monitor the former leader’s movements “solely for his own safety.”

“Even if Mr Lungu does not report his actions to us, we will ensure his protection by monitoring his activities. That is our duty,” Musamba added.

Lungu on Wednesday said he had been the subject of numerous unconstitutional acts by the government since leaving office.

Police had been instructed to “ambush me at night, abduct me, humiliate me and forcibly detain me like a violent criminal,” he said.

“As far as I am aware, I have not committed any crime that would warrant the government through the police to plot against me in this way,” Lungu added.

But House of Representatives spokesman Clayson Hamasaka later denied Lungu’s claims, saying the former leader was “moving freely around our towns and cities, exercising the rights to freedom of speech and association that he once denied to others.”

“Edgar Lungu currently serves as an opposition politician in Zambia and the country’s laws clearly outline what is expected of an opposition leader,” Hamasaka said in a statement.

“Sometimes babies are born before they’re nine months old,” Lungu said at a church service last Sunday, warning of a change of power before the next elections.

Police chief Musamba said he would summon Lungu to explain his statement, local media reported.

Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa called Lungu’s comments “appalling and astonishing” and said the government was “considering them carefully.”

This comes days after police warned that Lungu could face arrest and prosecution for “engaging in activities disturbing public order and safety”.

Two weeks ago, crowds swarmed around him as he walked through the streets of Lusaka, ostensibly to investigate the reported high costs of doing business in the city.

In February, the former president accused his successor of mismanaging the economy and called on citizens to call early elections.

Meanwhile, human rights groups have called on the Zambian government to quash the convictions of opposition leaders handed down two weeks ago for defaming the president.

Senior PF leader Raphael Nakasinda was convicted on May 17 over comments he made in 2021 alleging that President Hichilema had coerced a judge into ruling in his favour.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Nakasinda’s 18-month prison sentence will have a “far-reaching chilling effect” on the right to freedom of expression in Zambia.

The Zambian government has yet to respond to HRW’s statement.