The Zambian Prosecutor's Office has finally decided to file charges of treason against the opposition leader and former presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, arrested last Thursday amid a political crisis following the August elections, a vote won by the current president, Hakainde Hichilema, whose victory has been harshly questioned by his detractors.
Mundubile's lawyer, Milner Katolo, has indicated to MUVI TV that his client, along with the former vice-presidential candidate and running mate, Makebi Zulu, and 16 other people have been charged mainly for the violent police raid carried out at the opposition leader's home on August 14, a day after the elections, which ended with the death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya.
After that operation, Mundubile and Zulu managed to flee and remained under protection at a United Nations center during the following week, before finally being placed in police custody.
By then, the police had already announced that several firearms were seized during the raid at the site and that several of the detained individuals had been part of the Zambian security forces, hence the accusation that both Mundubile and his National Party of Reconciliation for Unity and Prosperity have been accused of undermining the stability of the State.
Regional and international observers described the election day as mostly peaceful, but the Zambian Human Rights Commission has demanded accountability for the individuals whose whereabouts are unknown following the arrests and security operations carried out around the elections.
The opposition was unable to legally challenge the election results, as the authorities closed the courts on Monday, the last day to file a lawsuit.
Hichilema will swear in for a second term on September 1.