On 20 November 2018, Zambian police questioned opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema over allegations that his remarks helped stir attacks on Chinese nationals, deepening political tension in the country.
Hichilema, who leads the United Party for National Development (UPND), was later released after questioning, according to his lawyer Jack Mwiimbu. Police had blocked the entrance to the station in Ndola and kept scores of party supporters from going inside.
Copperbelt police chief Charity Katanga said the questioning followed comments Hichilema made in an interview on SUN-FM, where he alleged that the government had sold the state-run timber firm Zaffico to Chinese interests. Katanga said that claim was false and that it triggered anger among residents, leading to riots directed at Chinese businesses.
"He has been cautioned for sedition," Ms Katanga told AFP. "In an interview aired by SUN-FM he alleged that government has sold Zaffico to the Chinese when in fact it has not.
"His statement caused discontent among residents and caused riots targeted at the Chinese. He has been warned to not incite ethnicity attacks."
The unrest in Zambia's second city, Kitwe, left some Chinese businesses looted and led to the arrest of scores of protesters. Authorities linked the violence to rising anti-Chinese feeling in the country, where criticism has grown over contracts awarded to China and borrowing from Beijing.
Hichilema has repeatedly disputed the result of the 2016 election, which he lost to President Edgar Lungu. He was also detained for four months last year on treason allegations that critics said were politically motivated.
He was accompanied to the police station by deputy Geoffrey Mwamba, a team of lawyers and Chishimba Kambwili, a critic of Lungu from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF). President Lungu has faced accusations of increasing foreign debt and tightening pressure on dissent since his election victory.
