Zambia’s tension after the country’s elections has been heightened by the detention of 11 people, some of them senior members of the opposition, and the confiscation of weapons, based on allegations from the government of an attempted armed insurrection.
This detention of people took place just days after Zambia conducted its presidential election, where the incumbent president, Hakainde Hichilema, was re-elected for the second time for five years with 61.4% of the votes cast, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia. The opposition’s candidate Brian Mundubile got about 38%.
Brian Mundubile was said to be at the scene of the raid conducted by the security forces in Lusaka.
Zambian Government Claims That Raid Uncovered Conspiracy
Patrick Kangwa, the highest-ranking civil servant in Zambia, claimed that those who were arrested were associated with military activities that involved foreigners, illegal military training camps and preparation for armed insurrection.
According to the government, the security forces seized military-grade weapons, ammunition and other items during the raid.
Additionally, Kangwa stated that some shots were fired at law enforcement officers, and consequently there was an exchange of shots. All 11 suspects were arrested in Lusaka at various police stations.
The Zambian government has not managed to prove that Mundubile was directly involved in the supposed conspiracy.
Brian Mundubile Denies Any Involvement in Conspiracy
Mr. Mundubile has denied all charges, calling them “total fabrications”.
In an interview with the BBC, he claimed that armed people entered his house with an armoured vehicle, forced their way through the gates and the door, and shot.
Moreover, Mr. Mundubile reported that the shots were fired at him, and a former minister, Mutotwe Kafwaya, was injured during the raid.
His family has remained traumatized from this event and has not returned to their house since the raid took place.
The opposition leader has also accused the authorities of meddling with his campaign and the credibility of the election process.
Election Controversy Fuels Political Strife
The arrests are happening in an atmosphere of political tension from the very beginning.
Before the declaration of the election results, Mundubile asserted that the parallel vote counting process of his campaign revealed him leading the election and pointed out problems with the election. He could not prove his allegations.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia suspended vote counting for some time after threats of violence towards election workers and theft of ballot papers. The vote counting process continued after the threat of security was allegedly overcome by the authorities.
The international observers also voiced their concern regarding the situation during the elections.
The European Union observer mission considered the elections to be genuine and competitive, but taking place in uneven conditions. The SADC also expressed concern regarding the halt of the vote counting process and the uncertainty of the process.
Opposition Leaders Among Detainees
The authorities noted that several key leaders who are affiliated with opposition parties have been detained.
These people reportedly include Patrick Mwansa, who is married to Tasila Lungu, the daughter of ex-Zambian president Edgar Lungu, along with other opposition members.
The recent detentions have put more focus on the way how the opposition parties will be treated after the elections, as the government has denied allegations that the detention was politically motivated.
The government insists that the action was taken because of security reasons, and not political considerations.
Political Environment in Zambia After the Election
The recent events are likely to increase scrutiny of the political situation in Zambia, especially considering that despite a relatively smooth course of the elections, there were still some controversial moments.
According to the EU observer mission, the election was considered competitive, but at the same time, there were complaints that the candidates competed on different levels. Media access and relations between the ruling party and the state bodies were among the other issues.
The latest security operation increases uncertainties as the new president, Hichilema, starts his second term.
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