Zambia opposition leader sought refuge following disputed elections. Now he's accused of treason

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LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Police in Zambia detained the country's main opposition leader Thursday over alleged treason after he handed himself over for questioning after having sought refuge at a United Nations building following a disputed election two weeks ago.

Brian Mundubile, who challenged President Hakainde Hichilema in the Aug. 13 election, surrendered to police alongside his running mate, Makebi Zulu.

They both recorded “warn and caution statements,” according to police — a procedure that normally comes before formal charges are filed. They are being held in custody, police said in a statement.

Hichilema was declared the winner of an unusually troubled presidential election in the copper-rich southern African nation that has a history of largely peaceful votes. Hichilema is expected to be inaugurated for a second five-year term next week.

Mundubile has rejected the result, claiming irregularities in the vote. He said he went into hiding after disputing the election results in fear for his life.

The treason allegations against Mundubile and Zulu follow a raid by security forces at Mundubile's home a day after the election.

Authorities said 11 people were arrested in the raid and AK-47 assault rifles and other military equipment were found at the property. The people were arrested on suspicion of posing a threat to national security, according to authorities, and are in custody facing treason charges.

An opposition official who was a former Cabinet minister was fatally shot in the raid, though the circumstances of his killing are disputed.

Authorities said security officers were shot at and returned fire. Mundubile, who was present during the raid, disputed that account and said the opposition officials were unarmed and shot at by security forces in an attack. He has denied government allegations that the opposition were planning an insurgency.

He said after the raid that he had gone into hiding. The opposition alliance said Thursday that he and Zulu had "sought shelter" at a U.N. building in the capital, Lusaka.

Amnesty International called the killing of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya in the raid “deeply alarming,” while U.N. rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement last week he was concerned about the arrests of Zambian opposition figures, including some who were detained before the election.

"The United Nations has been assured by the government that the two individuals will be treated in full respect of applicable rights and obligations under national and international law on due process and a fair trial,” spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Thursday. He added that the U.N. would monitor the situation closely.

Hichilema won the election with around 60% of the vote, according to the electoral commission. Mundubile said there were irregularities including the alleged removal of vote tally papers from some polling stations by unauthorized personnel.

Vote counting in the election was suspended for hours at one point because of violence at some counting stations and what the electoral commission called the theft of ballot boxes. The electoral commission did not say who was responsible for the alleged theft.

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