Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Police in Lusaka this afternoon fought running battles with opposition UPND cadres at the Lusaka High Court.
This was after Police fired teargas canisters to disperse unruly UPND cadres outside the Court premises shortly after the adjournment of the matter in which UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Mwamba are seeking the hearing of their presidential petition.
The UPND cadres are believed to have attempted to go through a Police barricade by force prompting police to fire teargas.
This angered other UPND cadres who were within the Court premises who attacked the police officers using stones and sticks.
The police officers however,fired more teargas canisters at the cadres and in the process to apprehend few cadres while others run away.
Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba who were attending the Court case are reported to have been whisked away through the Court’s back door during the commotion.
Stephen Katuka
Earlier, Police thwarted another attempted by UPND cadres who wanted to match in solidarity of their leaders from the party secretariat to the High Court through Church Road.
UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka has disclosed that police officer dispersed his party cadres with teargas after they disobeyed the orders by police not to proceed with procession.
Mr. Katuka says his party finds it unfortunate that police officers had to fire teargas at the party secretariat where they also apprehended at least 9 party members.
Meanwhile High Judge Mwila Chitabo has adjourned to Tuesday next week the matter in which Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba have asked the Court to ascertain whether or not their right to be heard was infringed upon when the Constitutional Court failed to hear their petition.
When the matter came up this morning, Attorney General Likando Kalaluka filed an application to stop trial in the case which was scheduled to commence.
In his arguments in chambers, Mr. Kalaluka who is the respondent contended that the matter before the Court did not require to be determined by the Court through trial.
Mr. Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba’s lawyers however, objected to this argument.
Judge Chitabo has since adjourned the matter to Tuesday next week in the morning to rule on the application made by the Attorney General.