Zambia Opposition Demands Release of Leader Held for Treason

Hakainde Hichilema charged for blocking president’s motorcade
Opposition calls treason charge politically motivated

Hakainde Hichilema.
Photographer: Dawood Salim/AFP via Getty Images

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By Taonga Mitimingi and Matthew Hill

April 13, 2017 at 9:46 AM UTC

Updated on

April 13, 2017 at 12:53 PM UTC

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Zambia’s main opposition party called for the immediate release of its leader, Hakainde Hichilema, who was charged with treason this week for failing to move off the road for the president’s motorcade.

Hichilema wasn’t driving the vehicle that allegedly obstructed the president and the charges are politically motivated, the United Party for National Development Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba told reporters Thursday in the capital, Lusaka. Mwamba said he’s also being targeted for arrest.