Zambia arrests top opposition figures days after presidential vote
Security forces in Zambia seized weapons and detained eleven individuals, including opposition leader Brian Mundubile, on accusations of plotting an armed insurrection.
Mundubile was discovered at the scene of a police raid in Lusaka, a location his government says was involved in preparing military training camps with foreign nationals.
The president, incumbent Hakainde Hichilema, recently secured 62% of the votes compared with Mundubile’s 36%, though the opposition has continued to claim widespread irregularities.
Mundubile denied the allegations, stating the raid was an attempt to eliminate him and that no militia had been present at his home.
Authorities said shots were fired at law‑enforcement officers and that the suspects possessed high‑grade military weapons and ammunition.
Observers lifted a brief suspension of vote counting on Friday, after Zambia’s electoral commission cited violence and stolen ballot papers, but EU and SADC missions voiced concern over the interruption.
The raids have heightened security presence in Lusaka and amplified calls for transparency in Zambia’s electoral process.
These events underscore a tense political climate in Zambia, where power demands are being contested both at the ballot box and in the streets.
