The President of Zambia, Edgar Lungu, has warned the country's judges against emulating their Kenyan counterparts regarding the presidential election.
The Head of State warned that if the judges make a judicial intervention like it happened in Kenya, it might plunge Zambia into chaos.
Lungu is expected to run for a third term in 2021, which will be unconstitutional as Zambia's laws stipulate that the President can serve a maximum of two terms.
With Opposition parties set to mount a legal challenge in the country's Constitutional Court, President Lungu maintained that the judiciary should not make decisions that could plunge the country into violence.
[caption caption="President Lungu with President Kenyatta"]
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He stated: "I want to make it very clear. 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," he added.
President Lungu went on to declare that his decision to run in 2021 should not be dependent on Kenya.
"Whether I am eligible to stand or not in 2021 should not be dependent on the case in Kenya," he stated.
Lungu also noted that his remarks should not be treated as an attack on the country's judiciary.
He stated: "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."
[caption caption="The Supreme Court bench"]
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He was speaking at an event in Solwezi, North East Zambia that was broadcast on state radio.
