Police Assistant Superintendent Mpazi Mbita says police took long to charge UPND president Hakainde Hichilema because his lawyer demanded that the exercise be carried out in the presence of other defense lawyers who were not present at the time.
In an affidavit in opposition of an ex-parte notice of motion for writ of Habeas Corpus, Mbita swore that HH had since been charged with treason.
“In response to paragraph 7 and 9 of the Affidavit, the applicant has been charged with the offences of treason, disobedience to lawful orders, disobeying of statutory duty, and use of insulting language. Now produced and shown to me marked ‘MM 1’ is a copy of the notebook signed by the applicant showing the charges,” swore Mbita.
“That further to paragraph six above, when the Zambia Police Officers wanted to charge the applicant on 11th April 2017, one of his lawyers present by the name of Hon Jack Mwiimbu requested that the applicant should only be charged in the presence of all his lawyers, most of whom were not present at the material time.”
He stated that HH’s application had been overtaken by events.
“That the response to paragraphs 10, 11, 12 and 13 of affidavit in support I verily believe that the application by the applicant has been overtaken by the events as he has already been charged and will soon appear before court,” stated Mbita.
