Elections & Democracy
Zambia police summon opposition leader Mundubile
Zambian police summoned opposition leader Brian Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, for questioning over an alleged national security threat after a disputed election.
Mundubile finished second in the August 13 vote that gave President Hakainde Hichilema a second term and has vowed to challenge the result in court. The electoral commission said Hichilema won 60% of ballots and Mundubile received about 38%.
A police statement said a joint team had been investigating serious national security threats for the past few years and wanted to question Mundubile and Zulu. It did not specify the threats but said “alarming activities” that could undermine national security had taken place at premises linked to them.
Mundubile and Zulu have rejected police suggestions that their alliance was involved in insurgency or militia activity. Mundubile went into hiding last week with an international human rights organisation after police raided his home in Lusaka.
Police previously confirmed that Mutotwe Kafwaya, a former cabinet minister and opposition parliamentarian, was shot and killed during the August 14 security force raid. Eleven people, including key opposition figures, were arrested on allegations related to treason.
Police have said Kafwaya was killed after security forces encountered “gunfire and resistance from unknown individuals” and returned fire. Mundubile has said those detained included members of his security detail and opposition figures.
Immigration officials said Thursday that they had arrested the secretary general of the opposition alliance. Police said the government had assured the organisation sheltering Mundubile and Zulu that no harm was intended against them.
International observers said the election was largely peaceful but was marred by opposition claims of intimidation, arrests, abductions and violence. Amnesty International warned of a growing crackdown on peaceful dissent and called on authorities to end arbitrary arrests and detention of opposition members.
Update
Zambian police summoned Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu for questioning over an alleged national security threat.
Police said a joint team had been investigating serious national security threats for the past few years and cited unspecified alarming activities at premises linked to the pair.
Immigration officials said they had arrested the secretary general of the opposition alliance.
Amnesty International warned of a growing crackdown on peaceful dissent and called for arbitrary arrests and detentions of opposition members to end.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 08:44:02 UTC.
Update
Zambian police confirmed that former cabinet minister and opposition parliamentarian Mutotwe Kafwaya was killed in the joint task force operation.
Police said security forces met gunfire and resistance from unknown individuals, returned fire and recovered a firearm.
Police said three former commandos with extensive military experience were among the 11 people arrested.
Brian Mundubile said his campaign had noted serious irregularities and would challenge the election result in court.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 22:22:08 UTC.
Update
The NRPUP said Brian Mundubile was in a secure location under the protection of an international human rights body because of threats against him.
Police were still holding several figures from the main opposition alliance arrested last week over rejected allegations of militia or insurgent activity.
Hakainde Hichilema is due to be sworn in within seven days of the electoral commission publishing official results, due by August 24, though a planned opposition challenge could delay the process.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 09:55:54 UTC.
Update
Zambia's electoral commission said Hakainde Hichilema won around 60 percent of the vote in the August 13 general election.
The commission said opposition leader Brian Mundubile won around 38 percent.
International election observers, including the European Union, echoed concerns about intimidation and restrictions during the campaign.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 09:32:19 UTC.
Update
The latest item states that last week's election handed President Hakainde Hichilema a second term.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 09:21:29 UTC.
Update
The UN demanded that Zambia halt what it called arbitrary arrests of opposition members surrounding the vote.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 09:14:13 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Police did not specify the nature of the alleged national security threats.
The full circumstances of Kafwaya's killing remain contested through police and opposition accounts.
The court challenge to the election result has not been resolved.
Source
AFP news report published on .