Govt agrees to pay K6.4 million each to UPND members over unlawful prosecution by Lungu’s regime

An application for consent order has been filed in the Lusaka High Court in which the State has agreed to compensate five UPND members who were arrested together with President Hakainde Hichilema on treason charges, a colossal sum of K6.4 million each.

The State through its chief legal representative, Attorney General, has also assented to pay the sum of K1 million as costs.

The beneficiaries of the said money include senior private secretary to the President, Wallace Chakawa, Pretorius Haloba, Laston Mulilanduba, Muleya Hachinda and Hamusonde Hamaleka.

The application filed in August, 2023, has not yet been signed by the presiding Judge, Pixie Yangailo.

The consent order read, “By consent of the parties through their respective advocates it is hereby ordered as follows; That the 2nd ,3rd ,4th ,5th and 6th plaintiffs will receive a payment of K6,400,000.00 each, as full and final settlement of all their claims in this matter; and that the defendant shall pay the sum of K1,000,000.00 as costs,”.

In May 2021, the Head of State who was then opposition UPND leader and five others filed a lawsuit in the Lusaka High Court seeking among other claims compensation for unlawful prosecution following their arrest at the home of President Hichilema in Lusaka’s New Kasama in 2017 (President Hichilema’s home).

They were charged for treason which attracts a life sentence for allegedly failing to give way to then President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade on the Mongu-Limulunga Road in April 2017.

After appearing in Court in the treason case, then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lillian Siyunyi, discontinued the matter against the six by way of a nolle prosequi.

Last year, Hichilema discontinued the proceedings against the State because according to the Republican constitution, the President cannot sue or be sued under Article 98(2).

Therefore, the five are the only ones who will be compensated.

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