Zambian
President Edgar Lungu has declared a state of emergency due to riots during
which public properties were destroyed.
Zambia President, Edgar Lungu “This is
not an easy decision to make, but in order to preserve peace, tranquility,
safety of our citizens and national security, we had no choice but to take this
decision given the events that have occurred in the recent past,” he said in a
televised address on Wednesday.
Lungu said he has issued a statutory instrument
to invoke Article 31 of the constitution which gives him powers to declare a
state of emergency. The matter will however be tabled in parliament for
approval by lawmakers, he added. Lungu noted that the government has on several
occasions advised citizens to desist from any irresponsible behavior and
expressed sadness that this has fallen on deaf ears. “There is no doubt in my
mind that the intentions of the perpetrators of these irresponsible actions is
to make the country ungoverned,” he said.
He however said the action will not
affect law-abiding citizens as they will be allowed to go about their daily
activities. On Tuesday, Lungu warned that the government will be forced to take
measures that will curtail rights of citizens due to lawlessness. It came after
the burning of a busy and popular flea market in Lusaka, the country’s capital,
the latest destruction of property by unknown people. Last week, the police
said they had intelligence information that some people were plotting to cause
destruction to public properties.
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