Zambia Suspends Dozens Member Of Parliament Following Boycott Of President’s Address

Four dozen UPND members of parliament were suspended in Zambia for boycotting President Edgar Lungu’s state of the nation address. Most of them are from opposition party.

Parliament speaker and Lungu loyalist Patrick Matibini cited gross misconduct as the reason from their suspension and they should resign on moral grounds if still does not recognize the president of the country.

The sign of dictatorship started earlier and in April this year UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was detained and charged with treason. He was alleged to had failed in yielding to Lungu’s presidential motorcade.

The arrest was made with a midnight raid at his home with tear gas by more than 100 armed police officers.

Hichilema is still in detention even though his plight erupted onto the international stage.

Similarly, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane was stopped by entering into the country after landing in Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

The government said Hichilema is being tried by a Kangaroo Court.

Maimane said, “The violent nature of his arrest, and the inhumane treatment that Hichilema has received in detention confirms the political motives behind these charges.”

Political situation in Zambia is not stable following two elections in January 2015 and August 2016 in which Lungu won by narrow votes.

The recent move is yet to know how the international community will respond.