Zambian president defends decision to invoke state of emergency

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By CGTN Africa

Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has defended his decision to invoke a state of emergency, saying he only wanted to bring sanity to the country. The president held a press conference in Lusaka on Thursday, 24 hours after invoking a constitutional provision that paved the way for a state of emergency.

Zambians have been reacting to this move by the president, some arguing the decision was unnecessary.

Lungu has attempted to justify imposing a state of emergency in the southern African country, alleging that opposition parties were behind a string of arson attacks intended “to create terror and panic.” Several fires, including one that burnt down the main market in the capital Lusaka, have been at the center of rising political tensions in Zambia.

Lungu added that if the International Monetary Fund found the emergency powers to be ill-advised, it was free to terminate talks meant to provide financial assistance to Zambia.

“This power I’ve evoked is only for seven days because parliament is sitting. So we have to move a motion in parliament,” Lungu said in a statement.

“If IMF (International Monetary Fund) thinks we go beyond the norms of good governance and democracy – they are free to go.”

Zambian President Edgar Lungu gives a press briefing on July 6, 2017 at the Zambian State House in Lusaka. /CGTN Photo

Zambia has enjoyed relative stability since its first multi-party election in 1991. But last year’s election was marked by clashes between rival supporters, with opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema still in detention on treason charges.

The main opposition party argues that Lungu’s use of emergency powers was unnecessary and that it is a ploy to make it easier for police to arrest opposition supporters.

The state of emergency laws in Zambia increase police powers of detention and arrest, as well as prohibit public meetings and close roads – something that many Zambians feel will be an infringement of their rights.

The country’s last state of emergency was declared in 1997 by the then president Frederick Chiluba after an attempted coup. It was lifted the following year.

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