UPND supporters had earlier surrounded Hakinde Hichilema’s home ahead of his interview at Woodlands Police Post.
…cadres attempt to control station repelled
By CLAVER MUTINTA
POLICE yesterday clashed physically with scores of United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres who forced their way into Woodlands Police Station in Lusaka where the party president Hakainde Hichilema was summoned for questioning.
And police recorded a warn-and-caution statement from Mr Hichilema for alleged publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.
The clash was triggered by the UPND cadres, who forced their way onto the police premises and attempted to dictate events.
In the raging confusion, police flogged some cadres to force them to leave the premises but they responded by throwing stones and broken bottles at the law enforcers.
This compelled the police to fire tear gas to disperse the unruly cadres, who surrounded Mr Hichilema, who arrived at the police station just before 10:00 hours accompanied by several members of Parliament (MPs) and party officials.
Because of the confusion, the questioning of Mr Hichilema was deferred from 10:00 hours to 11:30 hours as the UPND leader was whisked away by his party members.
When Mr Hichilema returned, he demanded that he be questioned at the reception, but after haggling, police secured a room where the interrogations were conducted.
Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda said the fracas was caused by UPND cadres who attempted to take control of the police station.
“They wanted to take over the police station. What we would want them to know is that this is our area of operation and there is no way we would let them loose like that and watch them causing confusion at the police station,” she said.
She said the Police has learnt from previous experiences that if cadres are allowed to be this unruly, police officers could be hurt.
“We had to show them that we are able to handle them and there is no way we can get instructions from cadres,” she said.
Ms Chanda said Mr Hichilema was interrogated in connection with a statement he issued recently, claiming that the Patriotic Front (PF) had dispatched militias to Kasama to harass Alliance for Better Zambia president Father Frank Bwalya.
“We have recorded a statement from the president for UPND Hakainde Hichilema for the offence of publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm the public, contrary to Section 67 of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
“This is in connection with a statement which he issued during a press conference held at UPND offices on a date unknown but between 6th January and 8th January 2014 in Lusaka in which he stated that PF had transported militias to Kasama,” the statement reads.
Ms Chanda said during the press conference, Mr Hichilema stated that militias were organised and unleashed on Fr Bwalya when it was not the case.
She said Mr Hichilema has been released without a charge but police would continue with investigations into the matter.
And Mr Hichilema alleged through his lawyer Sakwiba Sikota that the warn-and-caution statement was premeditated.
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