Zambian authorities have confirmed the arrest of several senior opposition figures on the night of last week’s general elections, accusing them of threatening state security as vote counting continued into Monday.
Partial results from Thursday’s presidential and parliamentary polls show President Hakainde Hichilema holding a lead, with the outcome widely viewed as a referendum on whether his economic recovery efforts since the pandemic-era debt crisis are enough to secure him a second term in the copper-rich nation.
Opposition leader and Hichilema’s main challenger, Brian Mundubile, said armed security personnel stormed his residence following the election, describing the raid as an attempt on his life. However, the government offered a starkly different account, stating in a release issued Sunday night that Mundubile was present when 11 people were apprehended after shots were fired at law enforcement officers from within the property, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
According to the statement, those detained were found in possession of military-grade weapons, ammunition, and materials linked to plans for armed insurrection, adding that the individuals had been under surveillance for several months. Six people were named as being in custody, including a spokesperson for Mundubile, with the remainder described as senior members of various political parties.
The arrests come after opposition figures had already been demanding the safe return of several people close to Mundubile who they said had gone missing or been detained. Opposition parties and civil society organizations have accused the government of escalating repression ahead of the vote, pointing to restrictions placed on campaign gatherings and political activity, allegations the government has rejected.
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