Zambia's president to be sworn in for second term while opponent detained
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is set to begin a second term following a disputed election, while his main opponent, Brian Mundubile, remains in detention on treason charges. International observers have raised concerns regarding the transparency of the vote tallying process.
Why it matters
The situation reflects democratic backsliding and political instability in Zambia, raising questions about the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, President Hakainde Hichilema now wants to build on the foundations that he laid in the first term
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema is due to be sworn in for a second five-year term on Tuesday following a disputed election and the arrest of his main opponent on treason charges.
Hichilema – credited with stabilising the economy – swept to victory on 13 August with 60% of the vote, according to official results. Runner-up Brian Mundubile, who received 38%, alleged that the outcome had been tampered with.
He was unable to mount a legal challenge to the result as the courts were sealed off last week on the final day a case could be filed.
Election observers said that while polling day was largely peaceful, some have raised questions about the vote tallying process.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in