This East African nation is known for stability. But drought and rising prices are fueling insecurity, and as the country nears the precipice of famine, the fragile government is struggling to respond.
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After months of public protests, the president fired his main adviser and top security official in January amid complaints he was allowing the influence of wealthy elites in the military, the judiciary and in media to undermine the nation’s peace and stability. The upheaval coincided with fears of imminent famine and the rising cost of food.
In a sign of the economic turmoil to come, the price of staples like rice, barley and beans have quadrupled this year over last year.
Zambia is the most populous of the East African nations, with a population of about 11.5 million, but it also suffers from high infant and maternal mortality rates and a severe shortage of resources. This year, for example, it became the first African country to experience a food crisis. Prices for staples are soaring and food supplies already running low.
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Amid this threat, the government is considering ways to make the public more aware of the situation ahead of the rainy season, when the government has forecast a 30 percent shortage of food in the next three months.
Yet there is still no clear plan to tackle the crisis, as the government has also been accused of attempting to silence critics of the president, who is accused of overseeing a power grab. Human rights groups have questioned the impartiality of the country’s judiciary and military, citing widespread abuses.
This week, amid signs of public discontent, President Edgar Lungu appointed former security chief Gabriel Mutati to a new post as vice president. The move appeared to be a show of leniency amid mounting criticism, but could be seen as a way to ease tensions. For the past few months, the army has reportedly staged parades in support of the president over allegations that he was seeking to take control of the army.
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In recent days, public anger has been bubbling over the government’s handling of the price hike. The government was accused of failing to act quickly enough when the food crisis hit.
And the country’s Supreme Court has ordered the release of four opposition leaders charged with treason, the government said Thursday. The four are accused of plotting to overthrow the president.
The court has, the government said, issued