Zambia Opposition Leader Held on Treason Charges After Surrendering
Zambia's main opposition leader was detained on treason charges after surrendering to police, following a disputed election and a raid on his home.
Police in Zambia have detained Brian Mundubile, the country's main opposition leader, on allegations of treason. Mundubile, who lost the August 13 presidential election to incumbent Hakainde Hichilema, surrendered to authorities alongside his running mate, Makebi Zulu, on Thursday.
The two were taken into custody after recording "warn and caution statements," a procedural step that typically precedes formal charges. Police confirmed they remain in detention.
Mundubile had been in hiding since disputing the election results, saying he feared for his life. He and Zulu had sought shelter at a United Nations building in the capital, Lusaka, before turning themselves in.
The treason charges stem from a raid on Mundubile's home the day after the election. Security forces arrested 11 people at the property and said they found AK-47 assault rifles and other military equipment. Authorities allege the group posed a threat to national security and have charged them with treason.
During the raid, a former Cabinet minister and opposition official, Mutotwe Kafwaya, was fatally shot. Authorities claim security officers came under fire and returned shots, but Mundubile disputes this, saying the opposition officials were unarmed and were attacked by security forces. He has denied any plans for an insurgency.
The election was marked by unusual violence and disruptions, including a temporary suspension of vote counting due to clashes at some counting stations and the reported theft of ballot boxes. The electoral commission did not specify who was responsible for the theft.
Hichilema was declared the winner with about 60% of the vote and is set to be inaugurated for a second term next week. Mundubile has rejected the outcome, citing irregularities such as the alleged removal of tally papers from polling stations by unauthorized personnel.
The killing of Kafwaya has drawn international concern. Amnesty International called it "deeply alarming," and U.N. rights chief Volker Turk expressed worry over the arrests of opposition figures, including some detained before the election.