Opposition party denies blocking Zambian leader's motorcade

Zambia's leading opposition party on Monday denied reports that it deliberately blocked President Edgar Lungu's motorcade on Saturday.

The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has come under attack over the incident with television footages showing their leader Hakainde Hichilema's convoy traveling side by side with Lungu's motorcade on a road in western Zambia's Mongu district.

The two leaders were in the district for a traditional ceremony.

Kakoma Kanganja, the Inspector-General of the Police has promised that action will be taken after he gets a full report on what transpired because it endangered the life of the Zambian leader.

But Charles Kakoma, the spokesperson of the opposition party said the party was law abiding and could have stopped to allow Lungu to pass if they had noticed his motorcade.

"We would have courteously given way to the motorcade carrying Edgar Lungu had we seen it coming. Assertions that we opted to drive side by side with the motorcade that was carrying Lungu are not a true reflection of what transpired," he said in a statement.

According to him, there was no prior warning to alert the opposition convoy that the presidential motorcade was near.

Meanwhile, Lungu's office has condemned the opposition leaders for putting their lives in danger by obstructing the presidential motorcade. Endit