Two citizens attending a rally in Lusaka for opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema were shot dead by Zambian police who were attempting to disperse the United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters. This has raised alarm among political activists who claim that the ruling party, the Patriotic Front, led by President Edgar Lungu, is indulging in political suppression ahead of the August 2021 election.
Hichilema was being questioned by the police about his purchase of a farm roughly 15 years ago, and hundreds of supporters gathered outside to show their support for him and denounce what the politician has called an “attack on democracy”. Riot police were deployed in response and fired at the supporters.
Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja released a statement saying, “In the process of dispersing the unruly crowd using tear smoke canisters, two people were reported to have been shot dead in unknown circumstances which we are yet to establish.” He added that the police have launched an investigation into the event.
Hichilema, however, said that “snipers” had “deliberately targeted” civilians. Likewise, local media outlet Barotseland Post claims that the police were “carrying out orders from ‘higher’ command”, and pointed at Edgar Lungu. However, these claims cannot be verified.
In fact, this is not the first run-in Hichilema has had with the ruling government. In 2017, he was charged with treason after he was accused of “endangering” President Lungu’s life when his motorcade allegedly blocked the path of Lungu’s motorcade. He was imprisoned for four months.
Hichilema has run for office five times between 2006 and 2016 and in fact lost to the current President in the last election. However, he disputed the results, citing voting irregularities.
United States (US)-based rights organization Freedom House has said that “opposition parties face onerous legal and practical obstacles to fair competition” in Zambia. In fact, just two weeks ago, five UPND members were arbitrarily arrested on charges of “unlawful assembly”.
These developments have worried international actors. For example, the United States’ (US) Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Lusaka, David Young, has called on the Lungu government to uphold deeply enshrined democratic principles of “freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and freedom from violence and intimidation”. He remarked that the government has abused its powers to block “public gatherings”
Lungu’s presidency is under threat due to accusations of authoritarianism, allegations of corruption within his administration, and a rapidly weakening economy. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer, but low commodity prices have heavily impacted the country’s economy. This has been compounded by “continuous power outages and insufficient tax revenue”, all of which have left citizens highly disillusioned.
The country’s external debt has risen to $12bn, or 80% of the GDP, and the economy is predicted to contract by 4.8% this year according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In fact, Zambia was the first African country to default on its debt repayments during the ongoing pandemic. In addition, the value of the currency, the kwacha¸ has fallen by 30% this year, and inflation has surpassed 15%.
This week’s events have only further weakened Lungu’s popularity. However, given that his opposition is a candidate who has lost five consecutive elections, it is unclear whether Lungu’s presidency is truly under threat.
Zambian Police Kill Two Opposition Supporters, Reigniting Claims of Authoritarianism
Supporters of opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema gathered in the hundreds to protest against a police investigation into the politician. In response, riot police opened fire on them, killing two.
December 25, 2020
SOURCE: BLOOMBERG