LUSAKA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Friday defended its decision to deny an opposition leader from South Africa entry into the country, saying his presence was going to undermine the sanctity, integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Mmusi Maimmane, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) was denied entry at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on Thursday evening when he arrived to attend and observe the treason trial of Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema on Friday at the Lusaka Magistrate's Court.
Zambian police boarded a South African Airways plane he was in upon touchdown and deported him.
Hichilema was arrested last month and has been charged with treason after his convoy allegedly refused to give way to President Edgar Lungu's motorcade in the western part of the country.
The South African opposition leader has since denounced the authorities in Zambia over the action, saying it was a sign of deterioration of democracy.
But the Zambian Embassy in South Africa said Maimane's statements before his visit to Zambia in which he stated that his party would pressure the courts to release Hichilema was a source of concern.
The statement added that the South Africa opposition leader's statement that Hichilema was facing trumped up charges and that he would mobilize fellow opposition sister parties and leaders to pressure Zambian authorities to release him forced authorities to deny him entry.
According to the statement, Zambia's High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba held a meeting with officials from South Africa' Department of International Relations and Cooperation where he informed them that it was imperative that the due process of the law was respected without undue pressure or interference.
The statement added that Zambia's democratic credentials and processes remain admirable in Africa and that the respect for the rule of law was at the heart of its democratic growth.
