By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
THE Zambia Correctional Services has asked the Lusaka magistrates’ court to vary its order, and insisted that United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema and five others be detained at Mukobeko Maximum Security Facility for their own safety.
Lusaka Central Correctional Facility officer-in-charge Patrick Ng’onga said this in an affidavit in support of summons filed in court.
Mr Ng’onga saId that Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility was the only maximum security facility in Zambia and, as such, Hichilema and five others were better kept there for their own and other remandees’ safety and humane custody.
He said the court should vary its earlier order of June 15, 2017 made to the effect that Hichilema and his co-accused be detained at the Lusaka Central Correctional Facility pending hearing of their contempt case against National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili.
Mr Ng’onga argued that the Lusaka Central Correctional Facility was not as secure as Mukobeko due to its location.
Mr Ng’onga said further that contrary to the earlier order, it should be changed and should state that the six should be availed to court as and when they are required to attend court proceedings and not for them to be remanded at the Lusaka Central Correctional Facility.
He said this was because the Correctional Services Authority were best suited to determine which correctional facility an accused person was to be lodged.
Hichilema and his co-accused were remanded as accused persons by the Correctional Services Authority and were appearing before Lusaka senior resident magistrate, Ireen Wishimanga in their capacity as complainants and witnesses, respectively.
Mr Ng’onga said the Correctional Services Authority had the capability to avail the six to court as and when the court so directed from any location within the country.