I DON’T HATE HH – SIKOTA

By Arnel Chitundu

UNITED Kwacha Alliance UKA Chairperson and former United Party for National Development (UPND) vice President, Sakwiba Sikota has said he harbours no hatred for President Hakainde Hichilema as perceived and speculated by certain individuals.

Speaking to The Scoop, State Counsel Sikota explained that when President Hakainde Hichilema was charged with offences over the Darfur case and was prosecuted, he was the lead defense counsel.

He stated that if he was bitter and hated him, there was no way he could have been his lead defense counsel.

 “In 2015, the International Parliamentary Union came in Zambia to investigate how certain members of Parliament were been treated, it was I who caused them to come, I did the petitions for some UPND members, like Garry Nkombo and Jack Mwiimbu, through an organization called the Coalition for the Defense of Democratic Rights,” Counsel Sikota said.

He said if he hated the Head of State and UPND he would not have gone to the extent of getting the International Parliamentary Union to come and defend UPND members of Parliament.

He disclosed that during a rally in Kabwe which UPND wanted to hold, where the police refused to allow them to do so, he took out the petition on behalf of UPND, for HH and his people to have a rally.

 He reiterated the fact that he was lead counsel in many cases that UPND members were involved in testament that he was not bitter.

 “If you hate somebody and they are charged with sedition, where they can go and get locked up for 20 to 25 years, would you go and defend them in court,” State Counsel Sikota questioned.

After the death of Anderson Mazoka then UPND President in 2006, president Hakainde Hichilema challenged Sakwiba Sikota and defeated him in the intra party elections.