APA-Lusaka (Zambia) Zambian police have warned former president Edgar Lungu of turning his morning jogging sessions into political events.
This followed an incident on Saturday when supporters of Lungu’s Patriotic Front (PF) joined the former president during his morning exercise routine in Lusaka.
The crowd is said to have cheered and raised fist showing support for the former president.
In a statement on Sunday, police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said Lungu’s exercise sessions while escorted by PF members and without his security officers amounted to “unlawful assembly”.
Hamoonga said the former president should in future notify the police in advance when planning to jog “to ensure public safety and traffic management”.
“Mr Lungu should strictly adhere to security protocols and should refrain from any form of political activism,” Hamoonga said.
He added: “What transpired yesterday where Patriotic cadres went about disrupting the free flow of traffic amounts to unlawful assembly and going forward shall not be tolerated.”
This is the latest development in a tense relationship between Lungu and his successor Hakainde Hichilema that has seen the former president’s wife being arrested for allegedly stealing vehicles.
JN/APA