Zambia finally decides to lift the opposition leaders’ treason charges, releases them on bail

Zambia’s Lusaska high court on Wednesday released Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, Zambia’s opposition leader and his five associates on bail after spending some months in jail, over allegations of treason.

Mr. Hichilema was arrested in April this year, accused of endangering the President’s life when his motorcade literally refused to pave way for Mr. Edgar Lungu, the President’s motorcade.

It was explained that Mr. Hichilema and the President were both invited to attend the same ceremony when they met on the road. A video captioned at the moment of the incident shows Mr. Hichilema’s motorcade ahead of the President’s, however, the opposition leader’s motorcade refuses to pave way for Mr. Lungu’s motorcade.

The opposition leader was later held with five co-defendants and charged for treason, though they denied all the charges against them.

A treason charged person in Zambia is sentenced to at least 15 years in jail and if found guilty, the sentence can be death. The accused is not even given a bail.

It is reported that, Hichilema’s charges have suddenly been dropped after a Commonwealth official’s visit to Zambia last week.

Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth secretary General visited Zambia and met with Mr. Lungu, the President and Hichilema, the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), the opposition party. After their meeting, the official stated that Mr. Hichilema would be released on public interest.

Later, the state prosecutor dropped charges against him in court, and the judge set him free on bail.

“The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to drop these proceedings by virtue of her constitutional powers. In this case, you are here by discharged,” said Charles Chanda, the judge at the high court.

Mr. Hichilema competed with Mr. Lungu in last year’s presidential election and narrowly lost to him.

However, he says that the election was rigged, and does not recognize Mr. Lungu as the President of Zambia.

Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu