By DELPHINE ZULU
and PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
OPPOSITION United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and his co-accused have been discharged after the Director of Public Prosecutions Lillian Siyunyi entered a nolle prosequi in the treason case.
Ms Siyuni was expected to commence trial yesterday, but informed the court that she had decided to enter a nolle prosequi.
Ndola High Court Judge Charles Chanda presided over the matter which started at 09:00hours and called on the DPP to open trial.
“At this juncture, I would like to inform the honorable court that I am entering a nolle prosequi in respect of all the accused persons before you, having regard to Article 180  paragraph seven of the laws of Zambia,” she said.
Justice Chanda then informed all the accused that the DPP decided to terminate the proceedings by virtue of her constitutional powers.

HICHILEMA

“Therefore, you are hereby discharged from this offense, but this is not an acquittal as you can be arrested anytime over the same offense, for now you are free to go home,” he said.
Mr Hichilema at a Press briefing at the UPND secretariat thanked God for making it possible for him and his co-accused to be released.
“We want to thank the almighty God for setting us free and I want to call this day as the day we shall commence our walk to freedom in the path of the 1991 and 1993 days, this day onwards, we shall bring true freedom, equity, justice and fairness to all our people.
Mr Hichilema said he knew what had been going on in the country, despite being in detention at the Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Fcaility in Kabwe.
He thanked various clergymen for rendering support while in incarceration.
In addition, he also thanked the Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland, who visited him, stating he had fruitful discussions with her.
Mr Hichilema said he was committed, as everyone should be in the country, to peace and stability to guarantee development.
He said he was also committed to the principles of the Commonwealth and the values on the rule of law and good governance, human rights, basic and universal freedoms.
He also thanked his wife Mutinta for being strong during the 127 days he was in custody.
“I want to thank you so much, my wife… I didn’t know she was that strong. I am so lucky I married this woman,” he said.
He planned to hold another Press briefing to talk about national issues.
He thanked party members for being united during the period he was away.