ZAMBIA: Govt denies detained opposition leader barred access to lawyers
Zambian police denied on Thursday that opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema had been refused access to his lawyers and family since his arrest this week but his attorney insisted this was the case in an intensifying political crisis. Hichilema was arrested on Tuesday and charged with treason for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade, raising the […]
Zambian police denied on Thursday that opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema had been refused access to his lawyers and family since his arrest this week but his attorney insisted this was the case in an intensifying political crisis.
Hichilema was arrested on Tuesday and charged with treason for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade, raising the political temperature in Africa’s No. 2 copper producing country.
A hearing is to be held on Tuesday to determine if Hichilema’s detention is legal, the UPND said.
“We have not blocked lawyers and Mr Hichilema’s members of the family from visiting him because that is his constitutional right,” police spokeswoman Esther Mwaata-Katongo said, responding to a UPND accusation.
Hichilema’s lawyer Jack Mwiimbu said he had seen his client on Wednesday but had since been prevented from visiting him.