UPND deputy secretary general Patrick Mucheleka says his party is shocked to learn of the “express speed” in which police on the Copperbelt processed a permit for PF youths to hold protest marches in solidarity with the Chinese.

In a statement, Mucheleka stated that it was his hope that the provincial police command would also use the same speed used to process the PF’s permit when applying the Public Order Act to the opposition.

“As UPND, we never knew a day would come when the Zambia Police, under Charity Katanga, would allow our own people to march in support of those stripping our national assets and taking us back into colonialism. Even more shocking is the express speed with which Charity Katanga processed the PF permit to march in support of the Chinese who are grabbing everything in the country from minerals, land, assets such as ZNBC, ZAFFICO and even grave sites in Chongwe,” Mucheleka stated.

He further stated that police on the Copperbelt should also allow his party and other political parties to march against the sale of national assets.

“We hope this is truly a change of heart on the part of the police in the application of the Public Order Act and will allow us in the UPND and other opposition political parties, plus other citizens that will soon be marching and mobilising citizens in defence of our land and national assets. Like our president Hakainde Hichilema said, we shall not stop talking about PF corruption, economic collapse, and now ripping off of our national assets and land,” stated Mucheleka.

“The PF protest in defence of the Chinese yesterday (Tuesday) went incident-free as the police gave them all the protection they needed and we expect the same treatment as well when our president Hakainde Hichilema appears for police summons next week on Tuesday. We once more want to congratulate the PF for openly protesting in support and siding with the Chinese who want to grab ZAFFICO against the wishes of the people of Zambia.”