<p>Zambian President Edgar Lungu has ordered the deployment of the military to quell electoral violence ahead of August 12 elections, the head of state said on Sunday.</p>

<p>Pockets of violence have been reported in the Zambian capital Lusaka as well as northern, southern and Muchinga provinces where supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) opposition have clashed using machetes, axes, slashers, catapults and other objects.</p>

<p>"In order to curb the political violence we have witnessed in the past two days, I have allowed the Zambia army, Zambia air force and Zambia national service to help the Zambia police in dealing with the security situation," Lungu said.</p>

<p>Even though the Electoral Commission has banned rallies because of the coronavirus, clashes between opposing political parties have overwhelmed the police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Maintaining law and order is a daily chore of the police but sometimes they need help from other security wings," Lungu said.</p>

<p>The government of the southern African nation has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent since Lungu replaced Michael Sata after his death in 2014, rights watchdog Amnesty International said in a report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lungu, 64, is running for a second term in the August 12 election as the copper-rich country battles economic woes.</p>

<p>Lungu's main rival Hakainde Hichilema has been detained several times since he started contesting the top job.</p>


Zambian President Edgar Lungu has ordered the deployment of the military to quell electoral violence ahead of August 12 elections, the head of state said on Sunday.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has ordered the deployment of the military to quell electoral violence ahead of August 12 elections, the head of state said on Sunday. Pockets of violence have been reported in the Zambian capital Lusaka as well as northern, southern and Muchinga provinces where supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) opposition have clashed using machetes, axes, slashers, catapults and other objects. "In order to curb the political violence we have witnessed in the past two days, I have allowed the Zambia army, Zambia air force and Zambia national service to help the Zambia police in dealing with the security situation," Lungu said. Even though the Electoral Commission has banned rallies because of the coronavirus, clashes between opposing political parties have overwhelmed the police. "Maintaining law and order is a daily chore of the police but sometimes they need help from other security wings," Lungu said. The government of the southern African nation has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent since Lungu replaced Michael Sata after his death in 2014, rights watchdog Amnesty International said in a report. Lungu, 64, is running for a second term in the August 12 election as the copper-rich country battles economic woes. Lungu's main rival Hakainde Hichilema has been detained several times since he started contesting the top job.

Zambia president deploys army to quell violence ahead of vote

<p>After being sworn in for a new five-year term, Zambian President Edgar Lungu said on Tuesday that he would focus on unlocking agricultural potential in his tropical nation to reduce its dependence on copper mining.<br />
<br />
Lungu said Zambians should put the divisive elections behind them and work as one to develop the country.<br />
<br />
&quot;Elections have the ability to bring out the most selfish aspects of our humanity. On my part I have learnt that there is no time and latitude to settle scores,&quot; Lungu said in his inaugural speech at the National Heroes Stadium.<br />
<br />
&quot;We must promote agriculture to become one of the main drivers of our diversification programme,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
Zambia&#39;s Supreme Court on Monday rejected an application by the main opposition party to stop President Lungu&#39;s inauguration after last month&#39;s contested election.<br />
<br />
Lungu&#39;s inauguration after the August 11 election was postponed because opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema challenged the result in court, saying the vote was rigged.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Prospects for resuming critical budget support talks with the International Monetary Fund have been dimmed by delays in swearing in a new head of state.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Prospects for resuming critical budget support talks with the International Monetary Fund have been dimmed by delays in swearing in a new head of state." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

<p><br />
A law introduced in January says the winner of a presidential vote cannot be sworn in if their victory is contested in court.<br />
<br />
On Friday, the Lusaka High Court threw out an attempt by Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hichilema to overturn a Constitutional Court decision not to give him more time to legally challenge Lungu&#39;s re-election.<br />
<br />
Prospects for resuming critical budget support talks with the International Monetary Fund have been dimmed by delays in swearing in a new head of state.<br />
<br />
Lungu has been the head of the ruling Patriotic Front since its leader, Michael Sata, died in 2014. He won the presidency the following year, defeating Hichilema in their first electoral confrontation.<br />
<br />
Zambia&#39;s economy has been hard hit by depressed copper prices but diversifying into agriculture presents a number of difficulties.<br />
<br />
Zambian agriculture is focused on the staple maize and is mostly produced by subsistence farmers who lack the capital and technology to lift yields.</p>

<p>(Reuters)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Zambia's economy has been hard hit by depressed copper prices but diversifying into agriculture presents a number of difficulties

After being sworn in for a new five-year term, Zambian President Edgar Lungu said on Tuesday that he would focus on unlocking agricultural potential in his tropical nation to reduce its dependence on copper mining. Lungu said Zambians should put the divisive elections behind them and work as one to develop the country. "Elections have the ability to bring out the most selfish aspects of our humanity. On my part I have learnt that there is no time and latitude to settle scores," Lungu said in his inaugural speech at the National Heroes Stadium. "We must promote agriculture to become one of the main drivers of our diversification programme," he said. Zambia's Supreme Court on Monday rejected an application by the main opposition party to stop President Lungu's inauguration after last month's contested election. Lungu's inauguration after the August 11 election was postponed because opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema challenged the result in court, saying the vote was rigged. Prospects for resuming critical budget support talks with the International Monetary Fund have been dimmed by delays in swearing in a new head of state. A law introduced in January says the winner of a presidential vote cannot be sworn in if their victory is contested in court. On Friday, the Lusaka High Court threw out an attempt by Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hichilema to overturn a Constitutional Court decision not to give him more time to legally challenge Lungu's re-election. Prospects for resuming critical budget support talks with the International Monetary Fund have been dimmed by delays in swearing in a new head of state. Lungu has been the head of the ruling Patriotic Front since its leader, Michael Sata, died in 2014. He won the presidency the following year, defeating Hichilema in their first electoral confrontation. Zambia's economy has been hard hit by depressed copper prices but diversifying into agriculture presents a number of difficulties. Zambian agriculture is focused on the staple maize and is mostly produced by subsistence farmers who lack the capital and technology to lift yields. (Reuters)

Zambia president Edgar Lungu sworn in, says will focus on agriculture

zambia-president

Zambia President, News on Zambia President, stories on Zambia President, articles on Zambia President, Zambia President stories at Wion, Zambia President news, Zambia President latest news

zambia president

Zambia president deploys army to quell violence ahead of vote

Zambia president Edgar Lungu sworn in, says will focus on agriculture