Zambia’s detained opposition leader Brian Mundubile has been charged with treason, his lawyer said on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over the government’s handling of political dissent.
Mundubile, who finished second to President Hakainde Hichilema in the August 13 election, was arrested on Thursday after spending more than two weeks in hiding.
Police accused him of posing a national security threat after security forces raided his home a day after the election and said they recovered rifles and other military equipment.
“I can confirm that Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu have been formally charged with the offence of treason,” lawyer Kambwa Aongola told AFP.
The two were charged on Saturday and remain in custody at Lusaka Central Police Station, Aongola said.
Zulu, Mundubile’s running mate, is a former lawmaker and spokesman for the family of late former President Edgar Lungu.
Both men have denied the allegations, dismissing claims that they were involved in an armed insurgency as fabricated.
It was not immediately clear when they would appear in court to enter their pleas.
Hichilema is due to be sworn in for a second term on Tuesday.
Rights groups have warned that the arrests of opposition figures could further restrict political space in Zambia.
Hichilema’s first term was also marked by concerns over political freedoms, with opposition parties and civil society groups accusing his administration of suppressing dissent. The government has rejected the allegations.
