Zambian police charge opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema with treason
Hichilema allegedly refused to give way to Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade on a main road at the weekend
Lusaka — Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been charged with treason, police said on Wednesday, after he allegedly refused to give way to President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade on a main road. Hichilema has said he does not recognise Lungu as president and has refused to accept the result of last year’s presidential election. "We have charged Hichilema and five others with treason," Zambian police chief Kakoma Kanganja told reporters in Lusaka. Hichilema’s vehicles allegedly declined to pull over to allow Lungu’s convoy to pass when they were both travelling to Western province for a traditional ceremony at the weekend. More than 100 armed police surrounded Hichilema’s house outside Lusaka early on Tuesday and tear gas was fired before a raid, where he was taken into custody. Hichilema, head of the United Party for National Development (UPND), has launched several legal attempts to challenge the August election result. He says the vote was rigged, and has accused Lungu of ...
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