Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
United Party for National Development (UPND) Leader Hakainde Hichilema, with his co-accused in the treason case, have today been transferred to Maximum Mukobeko Prison in Kabwe from Lusaka Central Prison.
The opposition leader has been moved by air from City Airport using a ZAF helicopter on his 60th day in incarceration to Mukobeko Maximum prison in Kabwe.
Mr. Hichilema and five others who are facing charges of treason were yesterday committed to the High Court by Principle Resident Magistrate David Simusamba.
Mr. Hichilema and five others were moved to Mukobeko Maximum Prison because after being committed to the high court, the status changed to capital remandees.
And UPND Legal Chairman Jackie Mwiimbu has told Journalists in Lusaka that authorities physically manhandled Mr. Hichilema and his co-accused before flown to Kabwe.
Mr. Mwiimbu says Mr. Hichilema was denied access to his legal representatives who despite being at prison premises for purposes of a regular visit, were equally removed from the premises.
He argues that the five accused are not prisoners but merely remandees whose rights remain intact saying they remain innocent until proven otherwise.
Mr. Mwiimbu says the action by the Zambia Prisons Service to move Mr. Hichilema and five others to Mukobeko is clearly intended to prejudice the accused persons in their defense and is clearly an abrogation of their guaranteed rights.
He claims that the accused person’s rights to a fair trial is clearly under siege and demonstrates bad faith on the part of the authorities.
Mr. Hichilema’s wife Mutinta
Meanwhile, Mr. Hichilema’s wife Mutinta says she is not aware of where the state police have taken her husband to.
Mrs. Hichilema says this morning she took food to her incarcerated husband at Chimbokaila prison but that she and her husband were not informed of the state police’s action of taking him away from Chimbokaila prison.
She says she has learnt with shock and a heavy heart that police have taken her husband to Mukobeko maximum prison without even informing Hichilema’s lawyers and herself as next of kin.