Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says it will continue escorting its leader Hakainde Hichileme to his court hearings as it was its democratic right.
Reacting to concerns by section of society on yesterday’s court proceedings by the opposition party’s cadres who went to offer moral support for Mr Hakainde, UPND official William Banda says no one will stop the party cadres from going to court when ever Mr Hakainde appears in court.
Mr. Banda was reacting to concerns by a named Lusaka clergyman only identified as Pastor Mwanza who said the opposition party cadres were in the tendency of disrupting court proceedings whenever their party president appears for his court hearing.
The UPND official said this in a telephone interview in Lusaka , yesterday.
He said courts of law were public places open to anyone regardless of political affiliations.
Mr. Banda, who is also the UPND’s special adviser, said escorting any influential leader to court is as good as escorting a friend to a funeral saying there was nothing sinister about escorting.
He has defended his party cadres’ presence at the court yesterday who he said were ‘peaceful’ people ‘ and accused state police of fueling violence at public places like courts.
Speaking in a separate interview, Mr. Banda said no leader even in the western countries could go un-escorted whether to court or campaign trail.
“Courts are public places and no leader is it in Europe or Asia leaders are always escorted by their followers and it’s not wrong to do that,” Mr. Banda said.
And opposition MMD National Secretary Muhabi Lungu says Zambia as a democratic state cant propel justice without exhibiting it.
Mr Lungu says all courts have got public galleries for people from all walks of life to sit and attend to court hearings as such there was nothing illegal for particular party cadres to escort their leaders to court.
He said cadres cannot be stopped from supporting a leader of their choice because doing so was against the tenets of democracy.
“Zambia is a democratic nation. Justice must be seen to be done and not be seen to be done. A courtroom has got benches to sit and anybody regardless of any affiliation can’t be stopped from escorting or attending a court session,” Mr. Lungu said.
On Tuesday this week (May 5), opposition UPND and ruling PF cadres almost clashed outside the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court after Principal Resident Magistrate Aridah Chulu adjourned a case in which UPND president Hakainde Hichilema is charged with publication of false news with intent to alarm the nation.
The cadres, who accompanied their leader Hichilema to court, accosted PF supporters as party SG Wynter Kabimba was leaving the courtroom and hurled a tirade of un-printables at them.
The PF cadres were escorting Mr Kabimba, who was summoned to testify in the case, to his car when the UPND sympathisers attempted to intercept them leading to a near punch-up between the two camps.
We know that is William Banda knows best. He is used like a watchdog that barks at any person who enters premises regardless. But ba Bill Banda, won’t you retire? And you HH, don’t you think iyi nkote is only subtracting from your integrity like he did to Rupiah? Bill Banda is the type that annoys the public and cause resentment of your party. Why assemble a group of rubble rousers to make noise at the courts? You instead need sober people to sit with you in court where the sign reads “silence in court”. William does not care as long as you give him his cheque!
Hahaha, William Banda and UPND, better for Zambia? Its unbelievable, same difference. Some arguments are more convincing than others. I do not think William is any better. Choosing between two evils, I would not choose William.
Without these cadres protecting hh,hh would be dead or injured by undemocratic pf militias.as we go towards 201f,I promise hh to hung my jacket to join william b.I will buy a gun.hh was attacked at kampasa funeral,nakatindi funeral,sun fm in c\BELT,thanks to his f.b.I he would have been attacked at good friday celebration.I now warn hh to take extra care of his moves,speeches coz he is a threat to the ailing dictator.he may not see 2016.
Political parties in Africa tend to attract people of all sorts of character. Mr William “Tekere” Banda was associated with abbrasive language in UNIP and MMD. However, in UPND he has been quiet and each time he has opened his mouth he has spoken a lot of sense. Could this be because of the sober, mature and non-violent approach to politics by the top leadership of UPND? I tend to think this is the main reason.
I am most impressed by the behaviour of UPND, NAREP, Mr Milupi’s party and FDD (excluding its President) has been mature and unemotional. FDD needs a new leader, really. Our sister seems tired and easily becomes emotional when confronted with issues concerning her private life. That is a serious weakness.
William banda wrong person to comment. On such matters,let him publicaly apologise for his bad behaviour and injuries he caused to those families.tekere special advisor my foot no wonder they are planing to arm themselves.
This man is still opening the mouth! I thought he was out of the country!
Poverty KASENSE NG’ANDA.Cadres mwacula pafula muno calo chesu.How can you be used pa K50?Namukula mwebantu please.Escorting who!Bushe muchili mubusha mwa?Are you going to be waiting for Court cases and make noise then you are paid?Suppose there are no court cases what do you do in your own spare time?SHAME !
Opposition leaders and all Zambians in general I wish to challenge you come 2016 General Elections.Is it possible to hold a rally in Kudu Road Kabulonga,Foxdale,sunning dale,Jesmondine,Longacres,New Kasama,Chelstone.
Why do we allow these Politicians to come to Matero,Chazanga,Mandevu,Kapoto,Twatasha,Luangwa,Mwamulenga,Chamboli,Kuku,Chawama John Laing,Misisi,Kanyama,Makululu etc.Do not misuse God’s Children. Cadres you continue escorting WHO?Why not escort your self to higher…
Well spoken Mr Banda, we value your advise. As an experienced man you understand such issues very well. We understand the wise saying that to catch a thief you need another thief…. to understand a violent cadre you need the advise of a former violent cadre.
Mr Band we know you are now a reformed and respected man
A bunch of noise makers. Always with mouths open but hear what rubbish that comes out of those open beaks
YOU UNREPENTANT SINNERS LEAVE WILLIAM BANDA ALOT TO EXERCISE HIS DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS,AFTERALL HE IS NOT A LIAR LIKE YOU,ATI BUMPER HARVERST MY FOOT
@sara you are a simple school dropout the best you can do not to expose your backwardness is to probably just read and keep your unkept mouth shut
william banda, you are a demented lunatic, only fit for an asylum. you are not worthy to talk to ZAMBIANS.
The woman next to Tekela Banda is showing signs of discomfort with what is coming from Tekela!!!