Brian Mundubile surrenders to Zambia police, ZNBC says

Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile surrendered to police on Thursday after two weeks in hiding following a summons over an alleged national security threat, state broadcaster ZNBC reported.

ZNBC, citing police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi, said Mundubile was interviewed by law enforcement officers alongside his running mate and in the presence of their lawyers.

Mundubile was runner-up in Zambia's disputed August 13 presidential election. President Hakainde Hichilema won 60 percent of the vote and is due to be sworn in for a second term next week, despite uncertainty over whether a challenge to his victory was validly filed.

Mundubile took refuge the day after the election at an international human rights organisation after police raided his home in an operation against the opposition. Former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot and killed during the operation, which also saw 11 people arrested.

Police allege those involved were linked to insurgency or militia activity. Mundubile has dismissed the allegations as fabricated.

International observers said the vote was largely peaceful but marred by opposition claims of intimidation, arrests, abductions and violence.

Mundubile, who received about 38 percent of the vote, had vowed to challenge the result. Zambia closed its entire judiciary on Monday, the last day for filing an objection, citing “security reasons”.

The Constitutional Court said Tuesday it had not received any petition challenging the election outcome, clearing the way for Hichilema's inauguration. Chief Justice Mumba Malila said, however, that he had received a petition from a member of the public on his private email address. He called the submission “highly irregular” but said he had referred it to the Constitutional Court for consideration.

The timing of the court closure drew criticism from legal and rights groups. Human Rights Watch said it was “without credible explanation”. HRW director Allan Ngari said measures that deny the opposition access to courts to challenge the election were a blow to law, transparency and due process in Zambia.

Hichilema entered the race as the clear favourite after steering Zambia through an economic turnaround and debt restructuring. His first term was also marked by concerns over political space, with opposition parties and civil society groups accusing his government of curbing dissent.

Mundubile became the main opposition challenger after a fractured anti-government camp rallied around him through the Tonse Alliance. He was a close ally of late former president Edgar Lungu and served as a minister in his administration.

Rights groups and election observer missions have said the post-election dispute has tarnished Zambia's democratic reputation.