Lusaka — A video showing Zambian police clashing with opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema’s supporters has emerged on social media.
According to reports, the clashes came after the United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters were denied entry into the police premises where Hichilema and his vice president Geoffrey Mwamba had been detained.
Hichilema and Mwamba were arrested on Wednesday in the country’s Copperbelt region, after they allegedly attempted to visit party members detained in various prisons.
They were both charged with “unlawful assembly” and “seditious practices”.
The two, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on bail on Thursday after spending a night in custody.
They were set to appear in court on October 19.
If convicted they could face up to seven years in jail.
In the video, angry opposition supporters could be seen chanting, as the cops blocked them from entering the police premises. The police officers used batons and clubs to attack them. — AFP



