IS ZAMBIA IN A SILENT STATE OF EMERGENCY: MALAWI VERSUS ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRACY
As Malawi heads to the polls next year, former president Professor Arthur Mtharika has declared he is recontesing the Presidency after losing in the last general elections which saw President Lazarus Chakwera emerge victorious.
In a comparison of democratic tolerance between Zambia and Malawi, experts including the international community have questioned why Zambia continues to redress the democratic gains it made after returning to multiparty democracy in 1991.
On the contrary, former president Arthur Mtharika has continued to enjoy the benefits of a former president with state security, an office and motor vehicles. Arthur Mtharika has 10 state security officers and six motor heavy SUV in his motorcade as he traverses the country holding mass rallies in his campaigns countrywide.
Ironically, Zambia’s former president Edgar Lungu is facing the complete opposite. His retirement benefits have been withdrawn, state security withdrawn and he is not allowed to move freely within and outside the country. He has been blocked several times from travelling outside the country for his routine medical check ups.
The main opposition the Patrotic Front have in the last three years of the current Hakainde Hichilema led government, never held a single rally. The democratic space has shrunk to colonial times. The opposition leaders are arrested daily for voicing out dissenting views against those in government.
Former president Edgar Lungu in his recent statement has querried his rivals government Hakainde Hichilema whether Zambia is in a state of emergency. Recently the former president was invited to a charity church service by the Catholic Church to a district on the copperbelt province in Zambia but heavy presence of police had been stationed through out along the great North road in an effort to block him from attending the said events.
Church gathering are cordoned off by police in riot gear soon as politicians attempt to go and pray. The police in Zambia is exercising heavy restraint on any gathering including Church gatherings and are on record threatening citizens from voicing out against the government.
As Zambia goes to the polls in 2026, stakeholders inclusing governance activists Brebner Changala have challenged the international community to call the current government to order in order to prevent chaos and instability ahead of the polls.
Zambia which was highly celebrated in Africa as a shining example of democracy and peace is on the verge of sliding into a fully fledged dictatorship.
By Victor Chaponda
DW-Malawi Correspondent
The author is a Malawian investigative journalist that writes for various international media including CGNTV, Denmark Daily, Euroasia Network etc.
Kabili ubu fontini mu Zambia too much. Hichilema and Upnd think that when they block former president Edgar Lungu from travelling and holding rallies is when they are going to win in 2026! The opposite is actually the truth, the actions of using police against Edgar Lungu is making Hichilema and Upnd very unpopular, and headed for a huge loss! He was booed yesterday at Heroes stadium all because of his bad and evil attitude towards Lungu! Malibu ya ku ilombela! He should not be surprised if booing continues until he’s out of power in 2026!
Mukuka only a PF criminal can think and talk like that. Iwe is not you PF criminals who went to sh*t HH’s private house PF loser iwe? Zambian and Malawian Constitutions on former Presidents’ benefits are not the same PF Kelenka iwe. You PF idiot how do you purposely ignore that your defeated Edgar Lungu never allowed HH to hold rallies anywhere in Zambia? C’mon Abash guntrotting and Panga Wielding PF criminals forever.