Zambia: State of Emergency Imminent
Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, is close to invoking a state of emergency in the country, according to various reports.
There have been conflicting reports surrounding Zambia and Lungu’s decision to invoke a state of emergency in the country, as some news sources have stated that Lungu had already implemented the state of emergency.
However, according to a statement released by President Lungu’s special assistant for press and public relations, Amos Chanda, Lungu did not invoke a state of emergency, and that the country is only under a ‘threatened state of emergency’.
Following a string of apparent arson attacks over the past few weeks, including Tuesday’s fire at the Lusaka City Market, Lungu decided to invoke Article 31 of the Zambian constitution, the ‘threatened state of emergency’.
During a televised national address yesterday, Lungu said:
“My government has decided to invoke Article 31 [leading] to a state of public emergency (Article 30)…practical measures as outlined tonight have had to be invoked [sic],” he said.
The triggering of Article 31 will mean that security forces in the country will have more power, and will be able to search and detain suspects without a warrant.
Lungu tried to reassure Zambians that the implementation of Article 31 will not affect their daily lives.
“Law abiding citizens will not be impacted by this decision in anyway and should therefore continue to go about their daily routines normally…I will ensure that measures to be undertaken under this proclamation will not inconvenience any law-abiding citizen,” he said.
He continued, asking Zambians to cooperate during this time.
“This proclamation should not instil fear among our people but instead provide them with a sense of comfort and security…I appeal to all citizens and the business community to cooperate with government as these measures which will be put into place under the proclamation take effect,” he said.
The threat of a possible state of emergency has further heightened political tension in the country
Zambia’s main opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has heavily criticised Lungu and his government over the past few weeks.
In an apparent retaliation, Lungu alluded to the fact that the fire at Lusaka City Market was started intentionally by the opposition. He maintains that the market was set alight deliberately in an act of ‘economic sabotage’.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the intentions of the perpetrators of these irresponsible actions is to make the country ungovernable…As 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 said in his speech addressing the fire.
The UPND said in a statement yesterday that the fire at Lusaka City Market should ‘not be politicised’.
