Police Block UPND From Entering Malambo

Police officers in Eastern Province have blockaded a road in order to prevent a UPND convoy carrying presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema from entering Malambo constituency. 

Images shared by HH on social media show police trucks blocking the road and firing what appear to be smoke canisters and tear gas. On the other side, UPND supporters try to get past in trucks and on foot.

Writing on his Facebook account, HH said the blockade was “unacceptable” and that once his party formed a government “these police officers being abused by the outgoing PF regime will be looked after, instead of being asked to turn their guns on their fellow citizens.”

This is far from the first time that the UPND has seen its movements disrupted by police during this campaign. In June, police blocked members of the opposition party from attending a funeral for a fallen party member at Kansenshi cemetery in Ndola. A few days later, HH was fired at with teargas and live ammunition as he attempted to make his way to a Church service in Chingola.

A recent survey by the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) found that police in Zambia disrupt or attack political rallies hosted by the UPND far more frequently than any other major political party. 

The CCMG also noted that police were far more likely to use excessive force against UPND supporters, warning that this was severely limiting the campaign space for political parties.