Zambia's opposition chief rejects 'dirty' police van, case adjourned

Hakainde Hichilema, Zambia’s main opposition leader who is currently facing treason charge on Friday (May 5) rejected a police van meant to take him back to jail pending a ruling on his treason case.

Reports indicate that the United Party for National Development (UPND) leader refused to board the police van back to the Lusaka Central Correctional Facilities, because the white van was full of dog excreta including urine and faeces.

An effort to clean the vehicle however made it dirtier as an officer brought a bucket of water to clean the dog excreta. Hichilema and the five other accused persons were returned to the court cells and were later transported in a different vehicle pending the next hearing.

The Lusaka Magistrate sitting on his case remanded him till Thursday May 11, 2017, to give a ruling on whether the treason component of the case should be transferred to the High Court. Hichilema is accused of trying to overthrow the government of President Edgar Lungu.

UPND leader HHichilema and 5 others will remain in police custody, after Magistrate Simusamba adjourned their treason case to May,11, 2017 pic.twitter.com/nOzDE2UzN3

— Mwebantu (Mwebantu) May 5, 2017

Last month, he was arrested after the convoy he was travelling in allegedly refused to give way to the president’s motorcade. Even though diplomatic efforts are underway to solve it, opposition elements have called the charges as politically motivated.

This is not the first time Hakainde Hichilema is being arrested, he had spent a night in custody last October, accused of unlawful assembly and sedition when he tried to visit supporters in jail.