South UPND protests HH ‘persecution’

By ANDREW MUKOMA UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) in Southern Province has protested the political “persecution” of its leader Hakainde Hichilema by the ruling party. The party said that it was saddened by the continuous persecution targeted at Mr Hichilema and his family. UPND provincial Information and Publicity Secretary, Neto Halwabala, said that they would not sit idle and watch the PF through the police continue committing criminal trespass on Mr Hichilma and his family members’ private properties. “We are aware that the battalion of armed police raided Ms Hichilema’s homes in Shibuyunji in search of imaginary weapons on Friday. This kind of criminality is uncalled for and should come to an end immediately,” he said. Mr Halwabala said that what happened to Mr Hichilema’s in-laws in Shibuyunji was a  shameful not only to police but to the Government as well. “We are shocked to learn that police through their spokesperson were claiming not to be aware of the raid at HH’s in-laws. But how can such deadly weapons and armed cars leave the police armoury without police command’s knowledge? “If police is dealing with unknowledgeable leaders in government let them not think all Zambian citizens are like them who do not understand the operations of state security wings.  Zambians are tired of seeing HH being treated like a criminal simply because of gaining popularity across the country,” he said.