By Mubanga Mubanga
United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) Chairperson Sakwiba Sikota says President Hakainde Hichilema should not brag about the human rights records of his government because the situation on the ground is saying something else.
Speaking after visiting the two brothers Elijah and Ernest Kaumba who were detained for over 50 days without being presented before court or being given a police bond, Sikota said if President Hichilema did not call and denounce the police for detaining two youths from Kalulushi for 60 days, without being taken to court, it would prove that he was a liar.
“And you go out there and claim that your human rights record is good, to follow the rule of law. Certainly not so. What is disappointing to me is that the President goes and says very nice things when he has press conferences,” Sikota said.
The UKA chairperson was who was accompanied by New Heritage party leader Chishala Kateka and EFF leader Kasonde Mwenda to visit the duo at Ridgeway police post on Monday, said President Hichilema should reprimand the police for not following his directive of presenting suspects to court within 48 hours after being arrested, failure to which, it would show that he was a liar.
“You have heard him stating, telling the general public that he has told the police, the law enforcement agencies that you must investigate before you arrest somebody. And if you arrest somebody, give them a bond. If you don’t give them bond, take them to court within … hours, you take them to court. Clearly he is just saying that without believing in it,” Sikota said.
He said if the President believed what he said, within the 50 days the suspects were in police cells, he would have called the Inspector General.
“And say didn’t you hear what l said, my directive? Even now, l am challenging him to immediately call the Inspector General of police. Why are you not following what I said you must do?” he asked. “If he doesn’t do that, it is clear that he is telling lies to the Zambian people. He doesn’t mean what says. My challenge to him is step up! Do something about these two young men who have been in cells for more than 60 days.”
And Sikota said the country was not in a state of emergency, for people to be detaining people without taking them to court.
“The reason we have a state of emergency is because maybe we need to take extraordinary measures. That is why then you have a state of emergency declared. Now without having a state of emergency how can you take this extraordinary measure of detaining somebody for more than two months without taking them to court?” Sikota wondered.
He also said he would assist the said youths on a pro bono basis and that he and colleagues were going to make sure that they put pressure on the government to do the right thing.
He said the youths complained of having medical difficulties, with one complaining of a toothache even though he was not allowed access to a medical personnel.
Sikota also said the duo also complained of bed bugs in the prison cell.