Ex-Zambian President Edgar Lungu has been banned from having his morning jogs in public.
His Saturday runs with members of the public and supporters of his Patriotic Front (PF) party have been banned over the attention they attract.
Mr Lungu has been ordered to seek police approval for future jogging events with a mapped-out jogging plan.
ALSO READ: Why Russia relations vital for Tanzania’s economic growth
Why ban President Lungu
However, the police order comes amid speculation that he will make a bid for the presidency in 2026.
According to a police statement, it stated that the PF’s failure to alert them of “public gatherings or demonstrations… amounts to a breach of the law. This is to ensure public safety.”
Consequently, it added that a “procession of a former head of state should be done with his security detail and devoid of political activism”.
However. President Lungu’s lawyer Makebu Zulu shared with the media that he would continue with his jogging without notifying the police.
Nonetheless, Mr. Zulu threatened to take legal action against the government if the former president, 66, was blocked from working out on Saturdays.
“Mr Lungu has been jogging since time immemorial and his motivation has never been to contravene the law,” Mr Zulu said.
Lungu restricted
This is the latest apparent restriction on the former leader’s activities, who served as president from 2015 to 2021.
Analysts have said the government of President Hakainde Hichilema is using heavy-handed tactics.
Previously, Mr Lungu recently took the government to court after he was allegedly blocked from travelling out.
However, after meaningful mediation, Ex-President Lungu later withdrew the case.
Plan to run for office?
The PF also said the former president had been stopped from travelling for a medical trip.
This took place despite seeking permission from the cabinet office.
Despite saying he would retire from politics after losing the 2021 election, Mr Lungu has been reviving his public profile.
Speculation has it that he is widely believed to be planning to contest the elections in three years’ time.
The Ex-president could be hoping to capitalise on growing anger over rising fuel and food prices. This has been an observable trend with African opposition.
