Take action! Detained opposition leader accused of treason (Zambia)
Leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Mr Hakainde Hichilema was arrested on 10 April. He has been charged with treason over allegations of obstructing the Presidential motorcade as it was on the way to a traditional ceremony held in the Western Province on 8 April. Treason is a non-bail able offense punishable by death in Zambia. Hakainde Hichilema is being detained at Lilayi Police Camp, a police training school outside Lusaka.
Heavily armed police, on Monday 10 April, raided the house of UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka, Zambia. Police switched off power at the house, blocked access to the main roads, broke the doors and fired teargas into the house. Hakainde Hichiliema and his family were in the house at the time of the raid. His wife who is asthmatic fainted twice during the raid.
Hakainde Hichilema was then taken to Lilayi Police Camp, a police training school outside Lusaka, where he is being detained accused of treason. The authorities allege that on 8 April, Hakainde Hichilema who was on his way to the Mongu celebration in Western Province accompanied by a convoy of over 60 vehicles, blocked President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade. They say that Hakainde Hichilema’s vehicle did not give way for the President’s motorcade. However, video evidence shows that the two convoys each stuck to one side of the road with none blocking the road.
Hakainde Hichilema was on 12 April charged with treason, disobedience to lawful orders, disobeying statutory duty and using insulting language under the Penal Code. Treason is a non-bail able offence in Zambia with a minimum jail term of 15 years and maximum sentence punishable by death.
Please write immediately in English or your own language:
Calling on Zambian Authorities to release Hakainde Hichilema immediately and unconditionally;
Urging them to end all forms of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests and unlawful detention against the political opposition in particular members of the UPND, including through misuse of the criminal justice system;
Urging them to ensure that Hakainde Hichilema or his workers are not subjected to torture and other ill treatmemt pending his release.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 26 MAY 2017 TO:
The President of Republic of Zambia
His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu
Office of the President
Plot 1 Independence Avenue
10101
P.O. Box 50212
Lusaka
Zambia
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency
Inspector General of Police
Kakoma Kanganja
Zambia Police Service Headquarters
P.O. Box 50103
Lusaka
Zambia
Salutation: Dear Inspector General
And copies to:
The Chairperson Zambia Human Rights Commission
Florence Chibwesha
Head Office
Independence Avenue
P.O.Box 33812
Lusaka
Fax: 260 211 252 342
Email: [email protected]
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. HIS EXCELLENCY MR PAUL WILLIAM LUMBI, High Commission for the Republic of Zambia, Zambia House, 2 Palace Gate W8 5NG, 020 7589 6655, Fax 020 7581 1353, [email protected], www.zhcl.org.uk
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Hakainde Hichilema is the president of the main opposition political party in Zambia, the United Party for National Development (UPND). Hakainde Hichilema contested against President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in the presidential elections held on 11 August 2016, where he was narrowly defeated. Following the defeat, UPND challenged the electoral results and their petition was thrown out by the Constitutional Court, without being heard by three Constitutional Court judges who took the decision without involving two other Constitutional Court judges.
Hakainde Hichilema was arrested alongside UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba in Luanshya on 6 October 2016 while on their way to visit their supporters in prison. Some members of the party have been in custody since August 2016. Hakainde Hichilema has always availed himself to the police whenever they have wanted. UPND members and activists have been subjected to harassment and arbitrary arrests in the past.
UA: 90/17 Index: AFR 63/6061/2017 Issue Date: 14 April 2017
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Voting for opposition 💩 is a total waste of time coz Zambians 🇿🇲💚 have already re-elected our Lord & Savior HH 🙏🏽 for a 2nd term in office coz he has delivered: free education 📚 debt restructuring 🪙 reopened mines 🏗️ given youths jobs 👮🏽♀️🪖 created peace by freeing us from violent PF cadres 👿 ended tribalism ✌🏽 x given us a stronger economy 🤑
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