The Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema who has been in detention for months on the charge of treason has been set free after the government dropped the charges.
His party the United Party for National Development (UPND) on Wednesday confirmed that its leader was released from prison ahead of his trial in the capital, Lusaka.
“Hakainde Hichilema and his 5 co-accused have been released from prison with the treason charge dropped,” UPND said on Twitter.
Mr. Hichilema was arrested in April after failing to give way to the motorcade of the country’s president, Edgar Lungu. The government then considered the action treasonable and offensive and quickly charged the opposition leader.
Hichilema denied the treason charges during Monday’s trial hearing. The trial was expected to resume on Wednesday.
BREAKING NEWS: President Hakainde Hichilema and his 5 co-accused have been released from prison with the treason charge dropped. #HHisFree pic.twitter.com/ZWiDPEy3fH
— UPND (@UPNDZM) August 16, 2017
Edgar Lungu invoked emergency powers last month which saw an increase in the powers of the police to arrest and detain people.
President Lungu beat Hichilema in last year’s presidential election and has come under criticisms for what analysts consider a growing level of dictatorship.
Source: Africafeeds.com
