Zambia Airports Corporation Limited has suspended Ndola’s Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport manager Joseph Mumbi and his Chief Security Officer Fridah Mupasha Mweetwa for allowing UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to sit in the VIP lounge.

Mweetwa confirmed her suspension in an interview with News Diggers! Tuesday afternoon.

“Yes, I have been suspended from work. The reason on my suspension letter is alleged failure in the way we handled a named opposition leader on May 11, 2019. That is all I can say for now. We will wait for the due process. That is all I can say. Thank you for your concern,” said Mweetwa.

By press time Airport Manager Joseph Mumbi was not available to confirm his suspension as his phone went unanswered.

But according to sources at the Kapwepwe Airport, the duo is accused of helping Hichilema slip through and evade an arrest, and for giving the UPND leader special VIP treatment.

The UPND media team reports that Police in Ndola attempted to arrest Hichilema before his departure for Lusaka, but failed to execute the exercise at the airpot, much to the annoyance of government authorities.

“Heavily armed State police are attempting to arrest president Hichilema at the airport in Ndola on the Copperbelt. Mr Hichilema is about to take off for Lusaka but heavily armed State police have surrounded and flooded the airport thereby causing commotion,” reported Hichilema’s deputy press secretary Brian Mwiinga.

The UPND leader was on the Copperbelt for party mobilisation and was on Sunday stopped by police from attending a service at St Joseph’s Catholic Church until local priest Father Chewe Mukosa intervened.