Following a series of incidents of reported arson attacks in Zambia, the President on Wednesday called for a state of emergency which will be officially implemented after approval by the country’s parliament.
The President’s state of emergency pledge however, is said to be in a move likely to trigger fresh accusations of government authoritarianism.
“My government has decided to invoke article 31, (leading) to a state of public emergency,” said Edgar Lungu, the President of Zambia addressing the audience nationally televised.
The pledge follows the very recent tragedy that happened in Zambia when Lusaka City Market was torched by a group of still unidentified people on Tuesday.
President Lungu described the incident as “premeditated acts which if left unchecked could have serious socio-economic consequences.”
It has continuously been reported that the situation in Zambia has politically been alarming since the arrest of Hichilema over treason charges in April.
Hakainde Hichilema is a leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), the opposition party.
Hichilema was arrested in April when his convoy deliberately refused to pave way for the presidential motorcade which had taken the same route, as they (Hichilema and President Lungu) were both invited to attend the same ceremony.
The President termed the act as endangering his life thus putting Hichilema behind bars for treason. Since then, he is kept in a maximum security prison and it is still unclear of when he will be presented before the court again.
It is remembered that, treason charges in Zambia are not eligible to bail. The suspect can either be jailed for 15 years at minimum, or
sentenced to death at the maximum, if found guilty.
President Lungu further in his speech concerning the current situation in Zambia said that, “there is no doubt in my mind that the intentions of the perpetrators of these irresponsible actions is to make the country ungovernable”
“As the President of this nation, it is my responsibility to respond accordingly to forestall this planned chaos and I will therefore, not tolerate this lawlessness,” he concluded.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu
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