RismadarVoice Reporters
August 30, 2026
Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile has been charged with treason alongside his running mate, Makebi Zulu, according to his lawyer, as political tensions continue to rise following the country’s disputed presidential election.
Lawyer Kambwa Aongola told Reuters that Mundubile and Zulu were formally charged on Saturday and remained in detention at Lusaka Central Police Station. The charges followed Mundubile’s arrest on Thursday after police questioned him over an alleged treason-related offence.
Mundubile, who contested the presidency under the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), finished second in the August 13 election, in which President Hakainde Hichilema was declared the winner. The opposition leader had rejected the outcome and indicated plans to challenge the results through legal channels.
The treason charges come after security forces conducted a raid on a property linked to Mundubile shortly after the election. Authorities said the operation was connected to national security concerns, while Mundubile and his supporters have denied allegations of any plan to undermine the state.
Mundubile and Zulu were previously questioned by police before the formal charges were announced. Details of the specific allegations behind the treason charges have not been publicly disclosed by authorities.
The development has drawn attention from rights groups and political observers, who have expressed concerns about the treatment of opposition figures following the election. The government has maintained that security agencies are acting within the law.
The case is expected to proceed through Zambia’s legal system as authorities and the opposition face increasing scrutiny over political freedoms, election disputes and the rule of law.
