Zambian authorities have formally charged opposition leader Brian Mundubile with treason, according to his lawyer. The charges were announced Saturday night following Mundubile's arrest on Thursday. The politician, who leads the NRPUP party, had previously sought refuge at a United Nations building in Lusaka after a police raid on a property linked to him.
The legal action follows the Aug. 13 presidential election, in which incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema was declared the winner with 60% of the vote. Mundubile, who received 38%, disputed the results. The government has accused the NRPUP of planning an armed insurgency, a claim the party denies. During a post-election raid on a property linked to Mundubile, security forces killed a former cabinet minister and reported the seizure of weapons.
Lawyer Milner Katolo stated that Mundubile and 17 others, including running mate Makebi Zulu, face treason charges. Katolo said his client intends to address the accusations in court. The arrests occurred after President Hichilema pressured the UN to hand over the two politicians. Additionally, the opposition reported they were unable to file a legal challenge to the election results because authorities sealed off the courts on Monday, the final day for filing.
For the general population in Zambia, these developments have occurred alongside a heavy security presence. Residents in the capital, Lusaka, witnessed the sealing of court buildings on Monday, which prevented the legal resolution of election disputes. The Zambia Human Rights Commission has called for accountability regarding people whose whereabouts remain unknown following arrests and security operations.
The use of treason charges against opposition leaders follows election disputes and allegations of insurgency. While international observers described the voting day as largely peaceful, the subsequent legal and security actions have drawn scrutiny from human rights monitors. The immediate next step in this process is the inauguration of President Hichilema, which is scheduled for Sept. 1. No specific court dates for the treason trial have been reported.