GOVERNMENT has urged former president Edgar Lungu to desist from claiming that the country’s democratic space is shrinking when he is freely enjoying his rights.
This follows Lungu’s assembly in Lusaka’s Central Business District yesterday where a handful of his followers disrupted traffic.
Chief Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa noted the irony of Lungu freely roaming the streets of Lusaka freely while asserting that democratic freedoms are under threat.
Mweetwa stated that the former president and his followers were able to move freely and associate with citizens without any form of harassment or violence as opposed to the time when Lungu was president and couldn’t allow President Hakainde Hichilema to move and interact with the citizenry.
He warned that the enjoyment of these freedoms should not be taken for granted by culminating into anarchy.
“It is interesting to see former president Edgar Lungu roaming and walking the streets of the CBD of Lusaka in Cairo road freely. This is how it should be, this is the freedom we fought for,” said Mweetwa.
“When he was president such an event would have ended up in a blood stained day, there would have been bloodshed, people would have been stabbed, there would have been the police with tear gas.”
Mweetwa said Government has no problem with Lungu walking the streets of Lusaka as long as he conducts himself within the confines of the law.
Meanwhile Police cautioned Lungu not engage in activities that disrupt public order.
“We urge former president Lungu to conduct himself within the confines of the law and to refrain from actions that disrupt public peace and order. Failure to comply will result in the necessary legal actions being taken,” stated Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, May 10, 2024
