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        Zambia Opposition Unhappy with Government 'Intimidation' Tactic

   by Peter Clottey

   The leader of Zambia's opposition United Party for National Development
   (UPND) says the government is using state security agencies to
   intimidate party supporters and needs to stop the practice.
   Hakainde Hichilema said President Michael Sata's government is
   intolerant of dissenting views.
   "This is a clear demonstration by the ruling party that they are
   intolerant to people with diverging views," said Hichilema. "Secondly,
   it is a clear affront against democracy.
   "They will like to silence everybody and anybody [and] that is not just
   us in the opposition and it is also the church," he added. "Not long
   ago, they deported a Catholic priest who talked about the growing gap
   between the rich and the poor."
   Hichilema's comments came after police searched offices of the UPND for
   what officials said were possible seditious materials.  Police said
   later they did not find any such materials.
   UPND lawyers are now considering their next move after accusing the
   government of intimidation and harassment, Hichilema said.
   The opposition leader also demanded that Defense Minister Geoffrey
   Mwamba show prove his claims that the opposition had plotted to
   assassinate President Sata.
   "I'm one of those people who has challenged the minister of defense to
   institute an investigation, as to who wants to assassinate the
   president," Hichilema said. "I challenged the defense minister to
   substantiate, what he said, and I know what he said, has no validity,
   and this is unacceptable from a government
   minister."
   Hichilema was arrested recently after accusing the government of
   training a militia in Sudan to terrorize the opposition -- an
   accusation the government denied.
   Supporters of the opposition leader said the government used state
   institutions to take away constitutionally guaranteed rights of free
   expression following Hichilema's arrest.
   But Information minister Kennedy Sakeni told VOA his government is
   making sure that the rule of law is respected by all Zambians.
   "This gentleman was arrested and within a [span] of six hours he was
   taken before a court of law. He wasn't detained or even questioned
   longer than necessary," said Sakeni.
   "The law [enforcers] do their business transparently and take matters
   before the courts of law. And as far as we are concerned as a
   government, we are on course."
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-opposition-unhappy-with-govern
   ment-intimidation-tactic/1499039.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-opposition-unhappy-with-government-intimidation-tactic/1499039.html