Zambia: Mundubile seeks to overturn election result in court
Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile's party alleges shots were fired during a raid of his house on election night. UN rights chief Volker Türk called for Zambia to stop arresting people "arbitrarily."
Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile announced on Wednesday his intent to contest the recent presidential election's outcome in court. The electoral commission had declared incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema the victor on Tuesday, securing a second five-year term, a position he has held since 2021. The election was fraught with accusations of interference and the arrest of opposition figures.
In his statement issued from an undisclosed location, Mundubile highlighted irregularities and other concerns regarding the election process. He contended that his campaign had meticulously documented several irregularities, inconsistencies, and problematic elements surrounding the election's conduct, counting, transmission, and declaration.
Mundubile had previously declared himself under protection due to threats posed by supporters of the ruling party. He secured 38% of the vote, while Hichilema received 60%. Despite the largely peaceful nature of the voting, 11 individuals, including prominent opposition figures, were apprehended on the election night, with the government attributing their arrest to an operation against militia activity.
Mundubile's National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) claimed that gunfire was exchanged during the raid on the opposition figures' residence, denying any affiliation with militias. The suspension of vote counting for several hours on Friday ensued following reports of attacks on polling officers and theft of ballots.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed concern over the arrest of opposition members, urging authorities to cease arbitrary arrests and to ensure full compliance with due process rights for all detainees. The European Union's electoral observers also raised concerns over transparency, reporting extended breaks during result tabulation in nearly half of the monitored locations, suggesting a reliance on instructions from headquarters before announcing the results.
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