Hakainde Hichilema, Zambia’s leading opposition UPND leader, has arrived in Eastern Province’s Petauke area triggering the excitement of the people of the area who have been expecting him.
According to the UPND media, Hichilema who is on a brief tour has been mingling with people in the area.
There are demands that Hichilema addresses a public rally but the UPND leadership are not in a position to conduct one as they believe the PF government is after their blood and would use the opportunity to get at them.
Hichilema has been blocked from holding rallies in Lusaka and Western provinces recently and the police have shied giving the opposition in Zambia permits for such public meeings anywhere citing imaginary security risks.
Hichilema has since embarked on tours that are also proving a success for his team who have been mobbed wherever they go in Petauke.
“Petauke is gripped with excitement as HH mingles with the people there. There is so much excitement as most people are seeing him for the first time after hearing so much about him,” the UPND media states.
Hichilema is scheduled to visit a ward where there will be a by-election on November 8 in Peteuke.
“People are now organizing themselves to travel to the Ward that has a by election where UPND is fielding a candidate which is about 15 kilometres from the town center,” the statement reads.