Zambia's Hichilema sworn in for second term after disputed vote

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in on Tuesday for a second term at a ceremony held at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, attended by thousands of supporters and several African heads of state, including Kenya's William Ruto, Botswana's Duma Boko, and Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The inauguration follows an election declared on August 18, in which Hichilema secured about 60% of the presidential vote, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia. His main rival, Brian Mundubile, received roughly 38% and has rejected the results, citing voting irregularities.

In his address, Hichilema acknowledged the opposition's supporters, saying, "We receive your support with humility and with a clear understanding of the responsibility it places upon our shoulders. To those who chose other candidates or other parties, we say with equal sincerity, we have heard you."

The electoral process has been overshadowed by the arrests of Mundubile and his running mate, Makebu Zulu, who are reportedly held at Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison. Mundubile claims he went into hiding fearing for his life after disputing the results, as security forces raided his home the day after the election. He and Zulu surrendered to police on August 24 after taking refuge at a United Nations building.

Zambia, which returned to multiparty democracy in 1991, has generally held peaceful elections, though the closure of courts for legal appeals has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.