Zambia's Lungu Declares State Of Emergency In Response To Arson Incidents In Lusaka

Africa | Zambia July 6, 2017

The president of Zambia, Edgar Lungu, declared a state of emergency in Zambia on July 5, 2017. That follows the burning down of the biggest market in the capital, Lusaka, on July 4, 2017, hence giving the incident and other previous arson incidents, a political dimension. Mr Lungu claims that the arson incidents in the country are deliberate attacks by perpetrators who want to make Zambia ungovernable, and as such, the attacks have to be contained. Notwithstanding, however, the declared state of emergency may be interpreted as a continuation of what has been argued in some quarters, as increasing autocracy by Mr Lungu. The leader of the main opposition party, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has been arrested by police several times since he very narrowly lost the latest presidential election to Mr Lungu, and is currently languishing in jail since his arrest in April 2017. _____________________________ © 2015 - 2017 Africauptodate. All Rights Reserved