In this audio, UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba says he asked police why they left him out when they decided to charge Hakainde Hichilema with treason because he was also with the opposition leader in Mongu.

Speaking at the UPND secretariat in Rhodespark shortly after HH was released from Lusaka Central Prison, GBM, who left the country shortly after HH’s arrest, claimed he had dared police to include him on the indictment.

“Colleagues, as you know, president Hakainde Hichilema, I always refer [to] him as comrade because comrades are those who are freedom fighters but who are living amongst each other. Who are friends so I always refer him to comrade and freedom fighter Mr Hakainde Hichilema. He has been incarcerated for 120 days for no apparent reason. He committed no crime. Ija day tenze kuchiteni ku Mongu, naine nenzepo. Bwanji siba na nigwile? Nenze kubafunsa nati manje mwanisiela chani? Naine nitengeni niyende kuli president wanga (that day we were in Mongu, I was also there. Why didn’t they arrest me too? I asked them that why have you left me out? Get me also and take me to my president ),” GBM said.

“But they were trying to bring divide and rule but yaba zandila (it has backfired). They thought our party would break but it hasn’t.”

Take a listen:

GBM said the UPND was a strong party which would outlive the PF.

“What PF must understand is that, UPND is not a ka nthemba party. PF will come and it will go. UPND will still be there. Ise because we are united, we know what we want. We love the people of Zambia,” he said.

He said now that his president was free, he would resume speaking out against the ills in PF.

“Mr president, we honor you as your supporters. You are a great man, you are a great leader. Mwa zionela bane ayi president ngati aga khale 120 days plus ba muchita incarcerate (if a president can stay 120 days in detention), who are we also. Why should we keep quiet. We should speak out. This is a democracy…They have brought tension in this country which was unnecessary. They were not suppose to arrest Hakainde Hichilema on tramped up charges. What offense did he commit?” asked GBM.

“So nifuna kuuza ba PF benangu ise tifuna kosiyila mukosi. Tizayamba kukamba president wathu achoka. Tizayamba kukamba ngati ufuna bwela usiku usebezese ija Article 31 ubwele unigwile. Hakainde Hichilema ngati anayendako naine bwanji sini ngayendeko (we will now be talking since our president is out. If you want you can come and use Article 31 to arrest me at night. If Hichilema went there [jail] why can’t I also go there)?”