That’s treason

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 12:57:07 +0000

By CHIKUMBI KATEBE and   SIMON MUNTEMBA

HAKAINDE Hichilema was being seditious when he asked people to take back power from those they voted into office which was an outright abrogation of the law.

The New Congress Party (NCP) has urged security wings to take seriously Mr Hichilema’s sentiments of trying to incite a rebellion against a legally elected government as that is treasonous.

In an interview with the Daily Nation in Lusaka yesterday, NCP leader Peter Chanda charged that Mr Hichilema’s sentiments were reckless and had the potential to cause lawlessness in the country.

Meanwhile, PF media director, Sunday Chanda said the UPND leader was undermining the Zambian people that gave President Edgar Lungu his five-year mandate by insinuating that there is no guarantee that he will be there in 2021.

Mr Chanda said Mr Hichilema was treading on thin ice when he suggests that what happened in Zimbabwe could happen in Zambia after inciting local farmers to rise against a sitting government.

“Mr Hichilema’s unfortunate sentiments that ‘what happened in Zimbabwe could happen here too’ and further inflame people to take back the power from those they voted into office, border on sedition,” he said.

And Mr Chanda alleged that the UPND president could have committed an offence by provoking the residents of Katuba when he called on them to stop being cowards as it could result in possible public unrest.

He said there was no doubt that Mr Hichilema’s sentiments were capable of causing some sections of the public to commit what was scribed as “a breach of the peace.”

Pastor Chanda pointed out that Mr Hichilema’s utterances were bordering on treason hence the need to be taken seriously.

“His statement in Katuba is tantamount to treason as it incites Zambians to rise against the legitimately elected government of President Lungu.”