I’ll be back in Zambia, says Maimane
TSHWANE: DA leader Mmusi Maimane yesterday insisted that despite the fracas and his deportation from Zambia, he will attempt to be in Lusaka on the next trial date of detained Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema.
“I have asked the Zambian High Commission to give me full reasons why they denied us entry yesterday (Thursday) in Zambia.
“They have assured me that they are going to come back to me about that issue,” Maimane said as he emerged from a meeting with Zambian High Commissioner in Pretoria, Emmanuel Mwamba.
“Further more, we’re not going to stay away. I have asked that at the next trial (appearance) of Mr HH (Hakainde Hichilema), we will go and attend – not because we want to meddle with the courts of Zambia, but we want to stand and ensure the Zambian government acts in a democratic manner.
“I still hold the views that Mr Lungu (Zambian President Edgar Lungu) is not acting in a manner consistent with democracy. Therefore, I will be going back there, given the time, for us to go and support Mr HH in Zambia. We are not going to be deterred.”
Earlier yesterday, Mwamba said Maimane had been notified this week to postpone his visit to Lusaka.
“On Tuesday, Mr Maimane’s office got in touch with us and informed us that he would be travelling to Zambia on Thursday. When we contacted Lusaka, especially about the details of Mr Maimane’ visit, we were advised that Mr Maimane should reschedule his visit,” Mwamba said as he addressed journalists in Pretoria.
“His visit was to go and visit his colleague (Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the largest Zambian opposition United Party for National Development UPNP) in solidarity and we found nothing wrong with that. But we advised him that there were concerns over his statements and utterances, especially regarding the sanctity of our courts.”
Mwamba said Maimane had also been advised to get permission from Zambian courts “because there is a list which the courts approve, of people who can see Mr Hichilema.”
The envoy said Lusaka would deter mine who was allowed permission into the country.
“Zambia as a sovereign state can determine persons to be allowed entry into our country and that is not in dispute. We, however, wish to affir m that Zambia continues to have mutual and admirable diplomatic relations with South Africa based on the historical economic and social ties between the two countries,” he said.
Mwamba said Lusaka had taken serious issue with Maimane’s remarks on the independence of the judiciary in Zambia, ahead of the trip.
“If you look at our judiciary, which is more like the British one, it is not similar to the South African one where you allow cameras in courtrooms. Ours is quite a conservative one. The integrity and sanctity of our courts of law is jealously guarded.
“We do not allow undue pressure, not even our republic’s president can put pressure on our courts.
“So the remarks by Mr Maimane, stating that he was to pressure the courts to release Mr Hichilema – how does he pressure the courts?
“He said he wants to pressure our government to release Mr Hichilema. Is it not the government holding Mr Hichilema?” said Mwamba.
“The arrest of Mr Hichilema does not in any way state that we are sliding into a dictatorship. It is simply a matter of the rule of law – no one is above the law.”
Mwamba addressed journalists after meeting officials from South Africa’s Department of International Relations, which wanted an explanation on Maimane’s Lusaka experience.
Maimane ye s t e r d ay described how he and his colleagues were manhandled and had their cellphones and iPads confiscated by Zambian authorities.
They were prevented from disembarking from the aircraft in Lusaka before they were forced to leave that country.
Maimane and his entourage were hoping to attend the treason trial of Hichilema, which took place yesterday.
The detained opposition leader is alle ged to have attempted to block Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade, which was travelling on the same road. – ANA