Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu were charged with treason on Saturday, August 30, 2026, following a contested presidential election that returned incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema to office for a second term amid a severe post-election security crackdown.
Zambian opposition figure Brian Mundubile was charged with treason on Saturday, according to statements provided to news outlets by his legal representation. The formal accusation follows a series of arrests and security operations targeting the opposition in the wake of the August 13 presidential vote.
Treason Charges Filed Against Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu at Lusaka Central Police Station
Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, were both charged with treason and remained detained at Lusaka Central Police Station, lawyer Kambwa Aongola told reporters. According to Katolo, Mundubile was informed of the charges on Saturday evening, and the lawyer told the Zambian Eye that his client intends to answer the charges in court.
The legal developments mark a sharp escalation in political tensions following the national ballot. Authorities previously accused Mundubile’s NRPUP party of planning an armed insurgency or militia activity, an allegation that the party has denied.
“Mr Brian Mundubile and his running mate, Mr Makebi Zulu, were both charged with treason and remained detained at Lusaka Central Police Station as of last night,”
Kambwa Aongola, lawyer
Disputed Election Results and the August 14 Security Raid in Lusaka
Official election data shows that incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema secured a second term after capturing 60 percent of the vote, while Mundubile finished as the runner-up with approximately 38 percent. Opposition leaders disputed the final tally, and Mundubile promised to challenge the result in court.
The political crisis intensified the day after the election when security forces conducted a raid on a property in the capital city of Lusaka linked to the opposition politician. During the operation, former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot and killed, and a number of other politicians were arrested alongside 11 people in total during the police crackdown. Police stated that the group was involved in alleged insurrection or militia activity, and the government reported seizing weapons during the raid.
Following the raid, Mundubile and Zulu took refuge at a United Nations building in the city, where they spent two weeks seeking safety after fleeing a police raid at his home. The pair were subsequently detained after the president put pressure on the UN to hand them over to the authorities. Zambian state media noted that Mundubile surrendered to police in Lusaka on August 27 after his time at the international human rights organisation.
Zambian Judiciary Closure Blocks Opposition Court Challenge Before Inauguration
Under Article 103 of the Zambian Constitution, an election petition must be filed within seven days of the winner being declared, and filing that challenge automatically pauses the presidential inauguration under Article 104. However, Zambia closed its entire judiciary on Monday, which was the final valid day to file a court challenge, citing security reasons.
The abrupt court shutdown physically blocked the opposition from filing their petition before the deadline expired, preventing the automatic pause on the inauguration. Although Chief Justice Mumba Malila stated that he received a petition from a member of the public on his private email address—calling the submission highly irregular—he referred it to the Constitutional Court for consideration. The Constitutional Court announced on Tuesday that it had not received any petition challenging the election outcome, clearing the way for Hichilema to be sworn into office on September 1.
International Reaction and Rights Concerns Over Shrinking Democratic Space
Regional and international observers described the election day as largely peaceful, but the post-election dispute has tarnished Zambia’s democratic reputation. Hichilema entered the race as the clear favourite after steering Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, through a major economic turnaround and restructuring its debt. However, opposition parties and civil society organisations have raised concerns over increasing repression by Hichilema’s government.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the timing of the judicial closure, calling it a blow to the administration of law, transparency, and due process in Zambia.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Human Rights Commission has called for accountability over people whose whereabouts remain unknown following arrests and security operations around the elections.