Brian Mundubile, the opposition candidate in the Zambian presidential election, was charged with treason on Saturday evening, according to his lawyer. Seventeen other people, including his running mate, face the same charge.
The arrest of Brian Mundubile on Thursday had already heightened political tensions in Zambia. His lawyer, Milner Katolo, confirmed Saturday evening that his client had now been formally charged with treason. "He is awaiting trial on this charge," Katolo stated. Among the seventeen other people also charged is Makebi Zulu, Mundubile's running mate.
Everything changed the day after the presidential election on August 13. Official results gave incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema the victory with 60% of the vote, compared to 38% for Mundubile. The latter contested these figures, while the authorities accused his party, the NRPUP, of preparing an armed insurrection—an accusation the party denied.
The day after the vote, security forces raided a property in Lusaka linked to Mundubile. The operation resulted in the death of a former minister and the arrest of several other political figures. Mundubile and Zulu then sought refuge in a United Nations building in the capital. They were eventually detained after President Hichilema pressured the UN to hand them over to the authorities.
The opposition was unable to challenge the election results in court: the courts were closed on Monday, the last legal day to file an appeal. The Zambian Human Rights Commission has demanded answers regarding the fate of individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown following the arrests and security operations that followed the election.
Regional and international observers described the voting process as "generally peaceful." Hichilema is scheduled to be sworn in for a second term on September 1st.
Community
Comments
Write a comment
Be the first to comment on this article.