Zambian opposition leader charged with treason
Mundubile had previously gone into hiding at a United Nations building in Zambia's capital.
Brian Mundubile, a Zambian opposition figure, is facing treason charges, his lawyer confirmed, as political tensions escalate in the nation.
Mundubile's arrest occurred on Thursday, following a violent raid by authorities that prompted the opposition politician to seek refuge. He had previously contested the results of the recent presidential election, which saw the incumbent, President Hakainde Hichilema, secure another term. Subsequently, authorities accused Mundubile's NRPUP party of orchestrating an armed rebellion, an allegation the party denied.
On Saturday evening, Mundubile's lawyer, Milner Katolo, declared that his client had been charged with treason, adding that the opposition leader is prepared to address the accusation in court. Katolo also stated that 17 other individuals, including Mundubile's running mate, Makebi Zulu, have also been charged with treason.
Official results from the August 13 election indicate that Mundubile garnered 38% of the vote, while Hichilema secured 60%. The day after the election, security forces raided a property in Lusaka, the capital, connected to Mundubile. This operation resulted in the death of a former cabinet minister and the arrest of several other politicians.
Following the raid, Mundubile and Zulu sought sanctuary at a United Nations building in Lusaka. They were later apprehended after the president reportedly pressured the UN for their handover. The opposition's attempt to legally challenge the election results was thwarted when authorities sealed off the courts on Monday, the final day for filing such a case.
President Hichilema is scheduled to be inaugurated for his second term on September 1. While regional and international observers largely characterized election day as peaceful, Zambia's Human Rights Commission has called for accountability regarding individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown after arrests and security operations related to the elections.