04 June, 2017
THE Lusaka Magistrate Court has dismissed an application for constitutional reference a matter in which United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and five others are charged with treason. Maimane says that he was only able to retrieve his phone and iPad when the plane's pilot requested them on the condition they were not returned to Maimane until he was in South Africa.
South Africa woke up to the news that Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane was barred from entering Zambia on Thursday evening.
Maimane was on his way to show support to Hakainde Hichilema, who is being unduly persecuted by his government, and to show the DA's commitment to a human-rights based foreign policy.
Maimane held a rally on Friday in the South African capital Pretoria to demand that the case against Hichilema be dropped, saying the Zambian politician was facing trumped up charges.
Hichilema, 54, was arrested for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu's official limousine as both men travelled to a public event in Zambia's Western province.
"We were briefed by our team over the events that happened at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) last evening".
The Zambian government clearly feels threatened by Mr Hichilema and his party, the UPND, who have been working tirelessly in their attempts to stop the decay of democracy in Zambia.
The trial was marked by drama as SA's DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, was deported from the country on Thursday when he arrived on an SAA flight, to support Hichilema who he describes as a friend.
The DA leader said there were about 20 officials who stormed the aircraft‚ identified him and told him that he was denied entry into Zambia.
The decision was taken to ensure Mmusi Maimane did not put "undue pressure" on the judiciary, a Zambian diplomat said.
The Zambian government's behaviour was "shameful" and South Africa should lodge a diplomatic protest with it, the party added.
The high commissioner says Zambia's democratic principles are respected in Africa.
"This Maimane for example is just an agent of imperialists, he is leading a political party that is more or less responsible for atrocities that Africans suffered for over a hundred years". He said he has asked the South African authorities to write to the Zambian government seeking an explanation as to why he was denied entry into that country.
