Zambian Opposition Leader Charged with Treason

Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile has been charged with treason, according to his lawyer, amid increased political tensions in the country. Mundubile was arrested on Thursday following a raid by authorities that led him to seek refuge at a United Nations building in the capital, Lusaka. He had contested the results of the recent presidential election, in which incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema was re-elected. The authorities accused Mundubile's NRPUP party of planning an armed insurgency, a claim the party denied. On Saturday night, Mundubile's lawyer, Milner Katolo, announced the treason charge, stating that 17 others, including Mundubile's running mate Makebi Zulu, have also been charged. In the August 13 election, Mundubile received 38% of the vote, while Hichilema secured 60%, according to official results. Following the election, security forces conducted a raid on a property linked to Mundubile, resulting in the death of a former cabinet minister and the arrest of several other politicians. After the raid, Mundubile and Zulu sought refuge at the UN building but were detained after the president pressured the UN to hand them over. The opposition was unable to challenge the election results legally, as the courts were sealed off by authorities on the last day to file a case. Hichilema is scheduled to be sworn in for a second term on September 1. While regional and international observers noted that election day was largely peaceful, Zambia's Human Rights Commission has called for accountability regarding individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown following the arrests and security operations surrounding the elections.