Arrests of Zambian Opposition Leaders Follow Election Result Announcement



An election official displays a ballot paper as observers look on during the counting of votes after the polls closed at a polling station in Lusaka, Zambia
The counting of votes from Thursday's poll is still going on


Security forces in Zambia seized weapons and arrested 11 people, including senior opposition figures, alleged to be involved in an insurrection plot, the government said.


Brian Mundubile, the leading opposition candidate in last Thursday’s presidential election, was reported to have been at the scene of the raid in Lusaka, according to top civil servant Patrick Kangwa. Mundubile dismissed the accusations as “total fabrications” and claimed that security forces staged an assassination attempt on his life during a raid at his home on Friday.


Results from more than half the constituencies were announced, putting incumbent Hakainde Hichilema in the lead with 62% of the vote, while Mundubile held 36%. Mundubile had earlier claimed victory with alleged voting irregularities, but this claim was not backed by evidence.


According to Kangwa, the arrested individuals were linked to “military plans involving foreign nationals and illegal military training camps”. They were described as a “serious threat to state security” and possessed high‑grade military weapons and ammunition for an armed insurrection. Shots were alleged to have been fired at law‑enforcement officers, leading to an exchange of fire.


Mundubile’s account of the raid described armed personnel breaking down gates with an armored vehicle, smashing doors and windows, and firing indiscriminately. He said two shots were aimed at him, and that a former minister, Mutotwe Kafwaya, was shot while he and his wife were present.


He added that his family remains traumatized and that he has not returned home since Friday due to safety concerns. He also said foreign “Tanzanian” officials were involved in interfering with the election, a claim Tanzania rejected as false.


Zambia’s electoral commission briefly suspended the counting on Friday citing violence against polling staff and theft, but lifted the suspension the same day after declaring the security threat contained. International observers from the EU and SADC expressed concern over the suspension, emphasising the need for transparency and adherence to lawful procedures.


The mood among the public remains stable as voters await the full results, but heightened police presence in parts of the capital is noted. Opposition statements continue to allege irregularities while authorities maintain that the election proceeded peacefully and orderly.