THURSDAY, 8.30AM:
ZAMBIA’S President Frederick Chiluba has seized upon Tuesday’s bungled coup attempt to announce a state of emergency which gives security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detention. The emergency will be reviewed in seven days by parliament, which is dominated by Chiluba’s party.
States of emergency have been common in Zambia — former president Kenneth Kaunda maintained an emergency throughout his 27 year rule. And Chiluba himself imposed a three month emergency in 1992, when he accused his opposition of plotting civil unrest.
But in a surprise admission, government spokesman Richard Sakala said there was no evidence that Kaunda or any other opposition leader was linked to the coup — a retreat from claims earlier in the week which directly accused Kaunda of plotting the coup.
The opposition National Party expressed fears that President Chiluba’s declaration of a state of emergency may be used to harass political opponents.
National Party vice-president Daniel Lisulo said: ”This is a most unfortunate thing. I only hope it won’t be abused by those in government to try and harass their imaginary enemies.”
The opposition Zambia Post wrote in an editorial: ”Zambia’s political impasse will not be broken by slapping curfews and states of emergency. It will not be helped by keeping quiet and pretending all is well and the majority of Zambians are happy with President Chiluba’s scheme of things.