Zambia's President Edgar Lungu has warned the judiciary
that there will be chaos if he is barred from standing in the 2021 election,
saying they should not be a "copycat" of Kenyan judges who plunged
the country into crisis after annulling President Uhuru Kenyatta's victory in
elections in August.
Mr Lungu's eligibility for the poll is being challenged by
critics who argue that he is serving his second and final term, and cannot
stand for re-election.
They say that the period he served after the death of
President Michael Sata in 2014 counts as his first term.
Mr Lungu's supporters maintain that he merely finished his
predecessor's term, and he has been serving his first term since his victory in
the disputed 2016 election.
Addressing his supporters in the north-west, Mr Lungu said: "To my colleagues
in the judiciary, my message is just do your work, interpret the law without
fear or favour and look at the best interest of this country. Don’t become a
copycat and think that you are a hero if you plunge this country into chaos.
"I want to close
by saying that those people who don’t like peace and freedom will say President
Lungu is intimidating the courts of law. I am not intimidating the judiciary. I
am just warning you because I have information that some of you want to be
adventurous. Your adventure should not plunge us into chaos, please.
"People are saying
Zambian courts should emulate Kenyan courts... People are saying Zambian courts
should be brave and make decisions which are in the interest of the people but
look at what’s happening in Kenya now.
"I am saying the
courts of law in Zambia should also see what’s happening. They should not
behave like they are not part of our African continent. The most important
thing I can say now is, 2021, I am available to stand if my party chooses me.”
BBC
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