HH Calls For Tayali Case To Be Brought Before Court

United Party for National Development leader and presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema has called for opposition politician Chilufya Tayali to be allowed to appear before a judge after spending more than 48 hours in custody without being charged.

Mr Tayali, who is the president of the Economic and Equity Party, was arrested last week for allegedly defaming President Lungu in a video posted on social media. 

Under Zambian law, no one can be detained for longer than 48 hours without being officially charged in a court of law. 

Writing on Facebook, HH commented that “As a citizen who has rights, this is not acceptable”. 

“We ask the police to expedite this and many other citizens who have not been charged within the 48 hours prescribed by law,” he added. 

Mr Tayali is being held in connection with a video posted online, in which he accuses President Lungu of defending Patriotic Front ‘commander’ Innocent Kalimanshi, following his participation in the violence at the PF secretariat building the previous weekend. 

It follows a worrying trend of the Zambia Police Service locking up opposition politicians without formal charges, for far longer than is legally allowed.

In February this year, police arrested UPND members Anthony Bwalya and Mutiba Nawa after they drew attention to a stash of irregularly issued National Registration Cards (NRCs) on Muvi TV.  

The pair were arrested and detained at Lusaka’s Woodlands Police Station without any charge being brought against them.