The main opposition leader for United Party for National Development, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema (HH) was violently arrested and charged with treason on the 11th April 2017. He has been kept in detention ever since for this non-bailable offense which is widely seen to be based on trumped up charges. The state prosecutors and police have so far not provided any evidence or investigation to support the charges and have been deliberately dragging the course of the law to prolong HH's detention. The action by the government is the tip of the iceberg of the deterioration of democracy in Zambia and is aimed at punishing dissent and denying UPND their political rights. There's also suspicion that the that the scheme is aimed at causing national provocation that would provide the state grounds for an oppressive state of emergency. The ruling Patriotic Front government is systematically restricting the media, restriction freedom of assembly and restricting freedom of speech. These actions will potentially roll back the gains of our multiparty democracy and re-introduce a one party state. To stop this trend pressure should be put on the government to halt the undemocratic practices, release HH and have the election petition resolved for the benefit of peace and unity. The action by government has been condemned by the Zambian freedom fighters, the Church, Amnesty International, the Europeans Union and many international institutions and experts and this petition will further attest to wide condemnation of the government whose sinister intention to get rid of dissent and the opposition have become clear.
