Law & Justice
Brian Mundubile charged with treason in Zambia, lawyer says
Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu have been formally charged with treason, their lawyer Kambwa Aongola told AFP, after they were taken into custody in a case that has raised concerns over political dissent.
Aongola said the two men were charged on Saturday and remained in custody at Lusaka Central Police Station. It was not immediately clear when they would appear in court to take plea.
Mundubile finished second to President Hakainde Hichilema in Zambia's August 13 election. He was taken into custody on Thursday after more than two weeks in hiding.
Police accuse Mundubile of posing a national security threat after security forces raided his home a day after the vote and said they found rifles and other military equipment. Mundubile and Zulu have denied the allegations and dismissed claims of an armed insurgency as fabricated.
Zulu is a former lawmaker and a spokesman for the family of late former president Edgar Lungu.
Hichilema is due to be sworn in for a second term on Tuesday. Rights groups have warned that recent opposition arrests risk further narrowing political space in Zambia. Opposition parties and civil society groups have accused Hichilema's government of curbing dissent during his first term, allegations the government has rejected.
Update
Brian Mundubile's lawyer said Mundubile and Makebi Zulu have been formally charged with treason.
The lawyer said the charges were filed on Saturday.
The lawyer said both men remained in custody at Lusaka Central Police Station.
It was not immediately clear when they would appear in court to take plea.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 August 2026 at 13:51:53 UTC.
Update
Police said Brian Mundubile and running mate Makebi Zulu are currently in police custody.
Police said investigators took statements from the pair in connection with an alleged offence of treason.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 18:18:18 UTC.
Update
Zambia closed its entire judiciary on Monday, the last day for filing an election objection, citing security reasons.
The Constitutional Court said Tuesday it had not received any petition challenging the election outcome.
Chief Justice Mumba Malila said he received a petition from a member of the public on his private email address and referred it to the Constitutional Court despite calling it highly irregular.
Human Rights Watch criticised the court closure as lacking a credible explanation and said denying opposition access to courts damaged due process.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 13:35:53 UTC.
Update
ZNBC said Mundubile was being interrogated alongside his running mate in the presence of lawyers.
Mundubile had taken refuge at an international human rights organisation after police raided his home the day after the election.
Former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot and killed during the police operation, and 11 people were arrested.
Police allege those involved were linked to insurgency or militia activity, while Mundubile has dismissed the allegations as fabricated.
President Hakainde Hichilema won 60 percent of the vote and is due to be sworn in for a second term next week.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 12:28:41 UTC.
Update
The opposition leader is Brian Mundubile.
Mundubile came second in the August 13 presidential election, described as disputed.
ZNBC reported he surrendered after being summoned over an alleged national security threat.
ZNBC said, citing police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi, that Mundubile was being interviewed by law enforcement officers.
He had been in hiding since the day after the election.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 12:02:51 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It was not immediately clear when Mundubile and Zulu would appear in court to take plea.
The allegations against Mundubile and Zulu remain denied by both men.
Source
AFP news report published on .