User:Icem4k/President Lungu and Hichilema Saga

From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia

The President Lungu and Hichilema Saga was a number of events that took place after the 2016 general elections and after the an Election petition was thrown out where UPND president and his running-mate challenged that the election was stolen from them.

Background

After president Michael Sata died in office Lungu's victory over UPND President Hakainde Hichilema in the 2015 presidential election[1][2] Hichilema denounced the elections as a sham and urged his supporters to remain calm[3][4]. However during President Lungu's presidency in 2015 he signed a new constitution which brought about the 50+1 voting system and chance that anyone can challenge the election results if they felt that the election was rigged they could file in an election petition.

After the announcement of the 2016 general election results was made Mr Hichilema and his running mate challenged the election results on the grounds that it was rigged. On 5 September The Constitutional Court dismissed the petition against the election of President Edgar Lungu by United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema and his running mate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba on grounds that its mandate lapsed at 23:59 on Friday[5].

The Events

After the petition was thrown out the UPND leader and a few of his followers refused to recognize Mr Lungu as president of Zambia saying that justice was robbed from them.

The Boycott

On 30th September 2016 all the 58 Members of Parliament from the opposition UPND stayed away from the ceremonial state opening of Parliament[6]. Only PF MPs, one from FDD and those from the Independent Parliamentary were present in the House. After it became visible that the UPND MPs would not attend the session, some PF MPs moved from their traditional right to occupy the seats on the left which were to be held by UPND MPs[7]. In a leaked letter which was signed by UPND Secreatary general Mr Stephen Katuka, saying that the party will take disciplinary measures against any MP that participates in the seating addressed by President Edgar Lungu. The letter also goes on to say that they did not recognize President Lungu as the president of Zambia.[8]The letter further said that the petition to resolve the theft of votes and declaration of Mr Hakainde Hichilema as elected president is still in courts.

On December 22, 2016 Parliament had ruled that 54 UPND Members of Parliament who boycotted President Edgar Lungu’s address to the House were in breach of parliamentary procedures and privileges and so the Speaker of the House Patrick Matibini had reprimanded the parliamentarians and ordered them to stand behind the bar and apologise to the house for their behaviour[9][10].

Kuomboka Ceremony Saga

On the 8th of April 2017 President Lungu's Motorcade and Mr Hichilema's Motorcade shared the Mongu-Limulunga road during the Kuomboka Ceremony. President Lungu's motorcade was obstructed by Mr Hichilema's convoy because they had refused to give way to the presidential motorcade to pass.

The two motor convoys went side by side for some seconds before the presidential motorcade finally over took Mr Hichilema's convoy. Upon reaching the gate President Lungu's motorcade went in for the ceremony and Mr Hichilema's convoy was locked out that they arrived late for the ceremony. With over 600[11]police men and women depolyed at the ceremony the entrance was heavily guarded by heavily armed police officers to deny Mr Hichilema and his followers from entering and attend the ceremony.

The Midnight Raid

The midnight raid took place at Mr Hichilema's private house by heavily armed Police officers. The police officers used harmful gas to torture Mr Hichilema and his family during the raid at his house.

It is reported that during the search for Mr Hichilema the police officers stole food stuffs money and other private owned property.

Treason charge

After the midnight raid Mr Hichilema was taken into custody by the police and was charged with Treason [12] contrary to section 43 (1) (a), disobedient to lawful orders contrary to section 127 of the penal code, disobeying of statutory duty contrary to section 126 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia (rule No. 222 of the High Way Code), and use of insulting language contrary to section 179 of the penal code[13] according to Inspector General of police Kakoma Kanganja.

Reactions

The opposition called the charges as politically motivated[14] and have been calling for an immediate release of its leader, Hakainde Hichilema. According to Vice President of the UPND party Geoffrey Mwamba, Hichilema wasn’t driving the vehicle that allegedly obstructed the president and that the arrest was a pre-planned move[15].

The U.S. government and the European Union, in separate statements on Thursday April 13, 2017 , expressed concern about the heightened political tension over Hichilema’s detention and urged calm [16] .

Also See

References

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