Zambia’s president starts second term as rival faces treason charges

Hakainde Hichilema began his second term as Zambia’s president with thousands of supporters in red UPND colors filling a Lusaka stadium, but the ceremony took place while his main political rival sat in jail on treason charges.

Official results gave Hichilema 60% of the vote in the August 13 election. Former government minister Brian Mundubile, the runner-up, received 38%. Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, later surrendered to police and were charged with treason, according to their lawyer. Both have denied the charges.

The election was marked by allegations of intimidation, pro-government bias and restrictions on the opposition. Those claims have damaged the democratic reputation of the copper-rich southern African country, even as a handful of African leaders attended Hichilema’s swearing-in ceremony.

Mundubile went into hiding after security forces raided his home on August 14. Authorities said they were searching for a suspected militia that posed a national security threat, a claim strongly rejected by Mundubile’s NRPUP alliance. A former cabinet minister was shot and killed during the operation, and 11 members of Mundubile’s camp were arrested.

Hichilema, 64, has received praise for guiding Zambia through a major economic turnaround since taking office in 2021. His second term now begins alongside a legal case involving the opposition leader who challenged him in the election.