Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu has taken the government to court after being allegedly barred from traveling to South Korea for a conference.
It is reported that Mr. Lungu had received an invitation to attend a world peace conference, but as he was about to depart, he was denied access to his plane due to a lack of government clearance for the trip.
Mr. Lungu has initiated legal proceedings in the Lusaka High Court, where he is challenging the government’s decision to prevent his travel to South Korea, as outlined in court documents he has submitted.
His political party, the Patriotic Front (PF), has denounced the government’s purported actions, labeling them as illegal.
“If he is invited and the trip is paid for or he can meet the cost of his own trip and that of his entourage, he doesn’t need to inform governments,” argued Emmanuel Mwamba, the PF’s spokesperson.
According to Mr. Mwamba, the former president had previously been denied permission from the cabinet office to leave for a medical trip.
“These draconian and dictatorial actions are a violation of fundamental rights of the former president and have no place in true democracy,” he said.
Hakainde Hichilema, the current president, ousted Mr. Lungu in 2021.
Even though he subsequently proclaimed his retirement from active politics, many people believe he is considering a comeback and may run in the 2026 elections.