By Francis Maingaila
LUSAKA (AA) – Zambian police in full riot gear were standing watch Tuesday morning in front of opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema’s residency located east of the capital Lusaka after raiding the complex overnight, according to his legal team.
“The police have denied us entry to see Mr. Hichilema and we are trying to negotiate with them so that they can allow us entry into the residence,” attorney Jack Mwiibu told journalists.
The law enforcement operation comes two days after Hichilema – a perennial presidential candidate and leader of the United Party for National Development – and his supporters refused to allow free passage to President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade as both groups traveled to the same function.
The road incident forced the presidential convoy to choose a different path to Limulunga -- a compound of the Lozi people -- to celebrate a traditional ceremony of theirs.
The Kuomboka ceremony on Monday saw both leaders attend, but neither acknowledged the other’s presence.
Early on Tuesday, police cut power supply to Hichilema’s residency and pulled down the wall fence to enter forcibly.
Hichilema ran unsuccessfully for president five times over a decade. The most recent election was last August, which he lost to Lungu by less than three percent of the vote.