Zambia Opposition Leader Charged With Treason Amid Political Tensions

Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile has been charged with treason, according to his lawyer, following his arrest amid rising political tensions after the country’s recent presidential election.

According to a report by BBC, Mundubile was arrested on Thursday after a deadly security raid prompted him to go into hiding.

The opposition politician had rejected the outcome of the August 13 presidential election, which handed incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema a second term.

Authorities subsequently accused Mundubile’s NRPUP party of plotting an armed insurgency, an allegation the party denied.

Mundubile’s lawyer, Milner Katolo, announced on Saturday night that his client had been charged with treason and was prepared to respond to the allegation in court.

Katolo also said 17 other people, including Mundubile’s running mate, Makebi Zulu, had been charged with treason.

Official results showed Mundubile received 38 per cent of the vote, while Hichilema secured 60 per cent.

A day after the election, security forces raided a property in Lusaka linked to Mundubile, killing a former cabinet minister and arresting several other politicians.

Mundubile and Zulu subsequently sought refuge in a United Nations building in the capital. They were later detained after President Hichilema pressured the UN to hand them over.

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The opposition was unable to challenge the election results in court after authorities sealed off the courts on Monday, the final day for filing an electoral petition.

Hichilema is scheduled to be sworn in for a second term on September 1.

Although regional and international observers described polling day as largely peaceful, Zambia’s Human Rights Commission has called for accountability over people whose whereabouts remain unknown following arrests and security operations linked to the election.