Zambian opposition leader charged with treason

Zambian opposition leader charged with treason Brian Mundubile, a leading opposition figure in Zambia, has been formally charged with treason, his lawyer Milner Katolo confirmed on Saturday night. Katolo said that Mundubile’s legal team had been notified of the treason charge and that the opposition leader “looks guardant to answering the accusation successful court,” as he conveyed to the Zambian Eye (see link). Katolo also revealed that 17 additional people, including Mundubile’s running mate Makebi Zulu, face the same treason allegations. The charges stem from Mundubile’s dispute of the 13 August presidential election results, in which he received 38 percent of the vote while incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema secured 60 percent, according to official figures. Following the election, security forces raided a Lusaka property linked to Mundubile. The operation led to the death of a former furniture minister and the arrest of several politicians. After the raid, Mundubile and Zulu sought shelter at a United Nations gathering in the city. They were later detained after the president’s security unit requested the UN to hand them over. Katolo noted that Mundubile was unable to file a legal challenge to the election outcome because the courts were sealed off by authorities on Monday, the final day on which a suit could be lodged. President Hichilema is scheduled to be sworn in for a second term on 1 September. Regional and international observers described the election day as largely peaceful, yet Zambia’s Human Rights Commission has called for accountability for individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown after the arrests and security operations surrounding the poll. [Link: https://zambianeye.com/police-formally-charge-mundubile-makebi-16-others-with-treason/] (Zambian Eye, external)