Police Attack UPND Supporters With Tear Gas In Nakonde

Police in Nakonde district have fired tear gas at supporters of the United Party for National Development after preventing a convoy carrying party leader Hakainde Hichilema from entering Nakonde Town. 

Footage shared to HH’s Facebook page shows police blocking the opposition supporters from entering the town before launching canisters of gas onto the peaceful crowd. It is not yet known if anyone has been injured.

The incident follows repeated attempts by the police to restrict HH’s movements in Eastern Province last week. The UPND leader was detained by police at Chipata airport for almost two hours during his visit and prior to arrival had his convoy stopped outside Malambo, where police once again attacked supporters with tear gas. The Law Association of Zambia has since criticised the police and called on officers to give all political parties free access to the electorate. 

Reacting to the latest events in Nakonde, HH expressed sympathy for police, who he has previously said are under pressure from the Patriotic Front government to carry out increasingly brutal acts.

“We feel for the Police,” he wrote on social media. “This should not be happening in our Country. Since when did the Law change to start demanding for a permit or indeed passport for us to drive through some parts of the Country like Nakonde in Muchinga Province?”

“Despite these threats on our democracy, we encourage you citizens to continue saying no to this dictatorship and come August, vote for UPND,” he added.