Deportation of Biti a total disregard for international law – HH
By Staff Reporter
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema says the deportation of Tendai Biti from Zambia is a total disregard of international and human rights.
In a statement yesterday, Hichilema said democratic people in Zambia were stunned by the deportation of Biti, Zimbabwe’s former finance minister and now opposition leader from Zambia.
Hichilema said it was well known that Biti was seeking asylum and in keeping with international law, the Zambian government should have given him hearing while engaging his pursuers in Zimbabwe.
Hichilema said the manner in which he was hounded out of the country further reduces the image of Zambia as a sanctuary of people fleeing from conflict.
“As a proponent of democracy and fundamental human rights, the UPND strongly condemns Honourable Tendai Biti’s deportation in the manner it was done by the Zambian government and invites all democratic forces in the International community to condemn this sad and shocking development in the strongest terms possible,” said Hichilema.
“Further, the UPND commends the United Nations, the US government, the European Union and other members of the international community over the stance taken with regard to the deportation of Honourable Tendai Biti from Zambia,” he said.
