Pretoria - SOUTH Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane has said the opposition party wants the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to press Zambian authorities to release Hakainde Hichilema who faces treason charges in a case that has stoked political tensions in that country.
Maimane on Friday also called on called on President Jacob Zuma to speak out against the continued detention of the Zambian opposition leader, Hichilema, adding it is “high time South Africa becomes a leader in protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law”.
“The DA will continue to advocate for the advancement of vibrant, competitive, multiparty democracy, the rule of law and the entrenchment of human rights and free speech across Africa.
“We will ensure this specific matter is raised in the relevant forums across the continent, including the AU and the SADC, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) of which Zambia is a member,” Maimane said on Friday at a press briefing in Pretoria outside the Zambian High Commission in South Africa.
Maimane was barred from entering Zambia on Thursday night to attend the treason trial of Hichilema.
Hichilema faces treason charges for allegedly refusing to order his convoy to give way to President Edgar Lungu’s cavalcade recently.
Maimane added: “Moreover, it is now time that President Jacob Zuma and the South African government speaks out against the anti-democratic practices occurring in Zambia.
“South Africa ought to be the leader on the continent in protecting and promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We call on President Zuma to show his concern and speak out against such actions by fellow leaders on the continent.”
Hichilema was defeated by Lungu in an election held last August, which he describes as fraudulent. He has been unsuccessful, so far, in challenging the election results.
