Lusaka High Court judge in charge Gertrude Chawatama has dismissed Hakainde Hichilema’s
application for habeas corpus saying it is the role of the trial court to establish the validity of the charges.
“At this stage this court cannot pronounce itself on the validity of the charges,” she ruled.
Habeas Corpus proceedings according to judge Chawatama are not designed to forestall criminal proceedings.
The UPND had applied that the High Court orders the commanding officer at Lilayi Police Training College to release Hichilema so that the opposition leader could appear before the court on grounds that he had not been charged.
