Zambia: Zambian Opposition Leader in Police Custody - State Media

What the report says

Zambia’s opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has been taken into police custody and is being questioned, according to state broadcaster ZNBC, as reported by Deutsche Welle and distributed by AllAfrica. The broadcaster said Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, surrendered to police in Lusaka and were being interviewed with their lawyers present.

The development follows Zambia’s August 13 election, in which incumbent Hakainde Hichilema was declared the winner and is due to begin a second term on September 1. Mundubile, who finished second, had said he intended to challenge the results in court. The article says he had gone into hiding after police raids on opposition sites and arrests the day after the vote.

Police have accused Mundubile of offenses tied to national security and of planning an insurgency, claims he has denied. ZNBC cited police as saying the questioning is meant to examine possible links to what officials described as concerning activities. The broadcaster also reported that the pair had been under United Nations protection before handing themselves over.

More broadly, the post-election period has raised concerns about stability and judicial access in Zambia. Court activity was reportedly suspended for security reasons on the deadline for filing an election challenge, prompting criticism from legal and rights groups. The custody of a prominent opposition figure adds to tensions around the disputed vote and the country’s handling of political dissent.