Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu stages a political comeback

After a crushing defeat in the presidential election, Zambia's former President Edgar Lungu has announced his political comeback, much to the delight of his supporters. Despite leaving the country in debt and with an unstable economy during his tenure, Lungu aims to capitalize on the growing dissatisfaction with his successor, Hakainde Hichilema. Lungu made his formal announcement at a service commemorating the late leader of his party, Michael Sata, where he declared his readiness to defend democracy and invited others to join him in the fight. Since Lungu lost power in 2019, there has been a dispute within the Patriotic Front (PF) party over its leadership, which has ended up in court. Lungu's entrance into the political arena could further exacerbate tensions and prolong the legal battle, as another individual, Miles Sampa, claims to have been elected as PF president at a recent meeting. Some have accused the government of fueling divisions, although it denies these claims. The Information Minister has expressed that Lungu has the democratic right to participate in politics if he chooses to do so. Hichilema, who won the 2021 election with promises to address the country's economic problems, has been facing criticism due to the slow pace of achieving these expectations. Although he has secured a bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund and successfully restructured loan agreements with creditors, high prices for staple foods and fuel have frustrated the public and led to dissatisfaction with the current political leadership. Alongside economic concerns, the government has also faced criticism from civil society organizations for its growing intolerance of dissent. Thirteen leading organizations released a joint statement expressing concerns about the shrinking space for freedom of expression and assembly in the country. The presidency, however, maintains its respect for human rights and emphasizes that it does not interfere with police operations. In a peculiar turn of events, Lungu was advised by the police against jogging in public as they viewed it as a form of "political activism." His weekly jogs with ordinary citizens and PF supporters had been attracting significant attention, prompting the need for police approval for future jogging events.