Fifteen people were injured, two with major deep injuries in a stampede after a senior police officer fired a teargas canister at the Lusaka Central Police where United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema had gone after he was summoned by the police.
The independent Daily Nation newspaper reports that teargas affected Mr Hichilema, journalists, his lawyers, many party members and senior party officials who were allowed to accompany him to the police.
Trouble started after the police attempted to eject non compromising UPND cadres that complained of police harassment of their leader.
The confusion that ensued forced the police command to postpone Mr Hichilema’s proposed interrogation indefinitely, but the UPND leader has vowed never to appear before the team of interrogators unless they showed professional conduct in their operations.
After his arrival, Mr Hichilema who waved the party symbol at the people around was ushered into the building’s second floor area where he was kept for a while.
Some party members made their way to the second floor but they were met by police officers who were dressed in anti riot gear while others were in plain clothes. The UPND cadres started chanting party slogans saying they wanted to be arrested alongside their leader whom they claimed was being harassed by the Patrotic Front government.
The placard-carrying UPND cadres refused to vacate the building, saying the Patrotic Front government must concentrate on delivering on its campaign promises instead of harassing their leader.
It was at this moment, a tug of war ensued between the police and UPND members, but there was drama when one of the policemen blew a teargas canister at the mob.
This caused panic among the people who were in the building as the UPND leader, his lawyers, cadres and journalists scampered for fresh air using every possible exit.
A stampede occurred because the group jostled for safety in the staircase. Some people fell to the floor and they were stepped on by the rampaging crowd.
In the confusion, scores of people, including Mr Hichilema, a journalist Tendai Posiana Banda from 5FM Radio were injured and had to receive medical attention.
By press time, two UPND cadres were admitted to the intensive care unit at Fairview Hospital, while Mr Hichilema complained to doctors of body pains because he was stampeded during the drama at Lusaka central Police.
An unknown number of people were injured in the confusion, but the police insist that Mr Hichilema was summoned alone and not with party cadres.
Police deputy public relations officer Chanda Munganaga told journalists immediately after the scuffle that the interrogation with Mr Hichilema had been postponed to later date, which she refused to disclose.
“I wish to confirm that we summoned Mr Hichilema to come to the police. Unfortunately, he came with the cadres. We did not summon the cadres in the first place. He should have just come alone.
“We are waiting for him to come again and we shall communicate to him when to come,” he said.
Munganga said Mr Hichilema was a law abiding citizen and the police expected him to abide by the law.
She said refused to state why the police summoned Mr Hichilema.
Munganga said the police decided to use teargas on the UPND members because they became unruly and tear gas was the only way to disperse them.
“We did not beat anybody and summoned Mr Hichilema because we wanted to interview him over something, which we shall disclose to the nation after we have spoken to him,” she said.
But speaking earlier, Mr Hichilema said in as far as he was concerned, he had responded to the police call out.
“We were having a discussion on the way forward and how to proceed on the matter with senior officials and we suddenly heard there was tear gassing of our members and we decided that there should be no interview,” he said.
Mr Hichilema said the police want to accuse him of causing alarm in the nation over the statements he had been making against the government.
“We have not been beaten, but we have been affected by the teargas and we shall wait for the police to tell us what they want to do with us since we have co-operated to the call out,” he said.
And Mr Mr Mwiimbu, who is on Mr Hichilema’s legal team said the police should not expect the same co-operation from the UPND leader because they have already messed up the matter.
He said it was not necessary for the police to use teargas on innocent and defenseless people who had gathered to give solidarity to their leader.
“The call out they sent was even out dated, but as a law abiding citizen, Hichilema decided to come,” he said.
Mr Mwiimbu said the interview would not take place because the police have failed to do their work.