The UPND has notified the police that it will hold a public rally on October 22, 2017 at Twashuka grounds in Lusaka’s Kanyama compound.

This is according to a letter of notice addressed to Lusaka Province police commissioner Nelson Phiri, signed by UPND provincial chairman Bob Sakahilu.

“We write to notify you that as a party, we will on 22nd October, 2017 be holding a rally at Twashuka grounds in Kanyama of Lusaka Province. Our planned rally will start at 14 hours and will be addressed by our party president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his vice, Dr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba,” Sakahile stated.

He stated that the rally would go ahead even if police did not had already mobilised it’s own security.

Sakahilu hoped that the police would allow the opposition party to hold its meeting like they had permitted similar meetings for other political parties.

“We wish to inform you that if your office has no enough officers to police our event, we will go ahead as we already mobilised our own at our own expense. We are also aware that in the recent past including during the state of emergency period, your office allowed other political parties to hold such meetings, and therefore, it is our sincere hope that the same will be applied on us,” stated Sakahile.

“By this notification to your office, we therefore confirm to the public and relevant stakeholders promoting democracy both within and outside our country that as a party (UPND), we will be holding this rally.”