July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Friday, July 20, 2001 - Web posted at 10:36:13 GMT

Zambian main opposition leader defies police orders

LUSAKA - The secretary general of Zambia's main opposition party, Edith Nawakwi, has defied a police summons, saying yesterday that the order was vague and that if police wanted her, they should arrest her.

Nawakwi, a former cabinet minister under President Frederick Chiluba who was sacked in May for opposing his bid for an unconstitutional third term in office, received the summons on Wednesday.

"After consultation with my lawyers, I have decided not to respond to the police summons," Nawakwi told AFP.

"If they really want me, they just have to follow me to effect an arrest."

Her newly formed party, the FDD, on Tuesday won a by-election seen as a test for general and presidential elections later in the year after defections from the ruling party over Chiluba's third term bid, which he later withdrew.

Nawakwi explained that the summons had asked her to report to the police criminal investigation department for questioning, but she gave no details.

"This is intimidation. I am not a criminal," said the outspoken opposition politician.

She had served as labour minister under Chiluba before she was sacked in May.

Last month, she was arrested by armed police officers and detained for more than five hours on the grounds that she had defamed Chiluba by accusing him of paying thugs to rape her.

- Nampa-Sapa-AFP

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