The Lusaka Magistrates Court has adjourned a matter in which UPND president Hakainde Hichilema asked it to cite Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili for contempt to August 23 2017.

This is because senior resident magistrate Ireen Wishimanga is indisposed as she is attending a workshop.

Hichilema and five others were also not brought to court from Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison where they are remanded whilst the minister was also not available.

In this matter, Hichilema wants the court to cite Sumaili for contempt of court over remarks attributed to her that “HH is in prison because he pushed Lungu to the wall by not recognising his presidency”.

Hichilema said such utterances had the potential to prejudice him in his treason case which was criminal in nature.

The matter was supposed to come up for arguments over the Director of Public Prosecution’s intention to take over the proceedings which HH’s lawyers strongly objected to.