The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called on the authorities of Zambia this Wednesday to put an end to "arbitrary" detentions, expressing his concern a day after the reelection of Hakainde Hichilema as president of the country following the elections last Thursday.
"I am concerned about the news regarding the detentions and imprisonments of opposition members in Zambia, both before and after the general elections on August 13," he noted in a statement in which he urged the Zambian government to "end arbitrary detentions and fully respect the procedural rights of all detained persons."
In this regard, Turk emphasized that "all detentions and the judicial proceedings arising from them --regardless of the severity of the alleged conduct or the specific charges brought against them-- must fully comply with international human rights standards, as well as with the national legislation of Zambia."
Among these guarantees, he recalled that arrested individuals must be informed of the reasons for their detention and the charges against them, be provided access to legal assistance and communication with their families, ensure "humane treatment" during their custody, present them "without delay" before a judge, and offer "effective remedies for any violation of their rights."
"At this critical juncture following the elections, it is essential to uphold respect for human rights and ensure that any claims arising from the elections are expressed and addressed peacefully, and in accordance with international human rights law," added the Austrian jurist.
Turk's words come after the liberal Hichilema renewed his mandate by obtaining more than 60% of the votes, against his main opponent, the opposition Brian Mundubile, who received 38.5% of the ballots, as confirmed by the Electoral Commission on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Executive announced the detention of eleven people in an operation carried out during the election day in the capital, Lusaka, which included the search of Mundubile's home and which, according to the authorities, responded to a "threat to state security" that resulted in a "shooting."
The cabinet secretary of the Government, Patrick Kangwa, explained it in a statement broadcast on social media, in which he linked "some" of the arrested with "military plans that involved foreign citizens and illegal military training camps."
The opposition leader, who had already denounced the events days before Kangwa's statements, has flatly rejected the accusations and maintains that his party "has no militia." "My companions were shot at in my presence. This was not politics, it was an attack against human life," he stated.