Zambian opposition leader plans to challenge presidential election results in court

Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile said on Wednesday that he plans to challenge the results of this month's presidential election result in court.

Zambia's electoral commission declared incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema the winner of the election on Tuesday, giving him a second five-year term. He has been in power since 2021.

The election was marred by accusations of interference and by arrests of opposition figures.

What did Mundubile say about his push to challenge the election result?

While announcing his intention to legally challenge the result, Mundubile pointed to irregularities and other issues with the election.

"Our campaign has documented serious irregularities, inconsistencies and circumstances surrounding the conduct, counting, transmission and declaration of results", Mundubile said in a statement issued from an undisclosed location.

The politician had earlier said he was under protection due to threats.

Mundubile received 38% of the vote on Tuesday, while Hichilema took 60%, according to the electoral commission.

While the vote itself was largely peaceful, some 11 people — including leading figures in the opposition — were arrested on the night of the election. The government said that the arrests were part of a raid against "militia activity.”

Mundubile's National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) said that shots were fired during the raid of the opposition figure's home. The party also denied any ties to militias.

Vote counting was also suspended for multiple hours on Friday after the electoral commission reported attacks against polling officials and theft of some ballots.

UN rights chief calls for Zambia to halt arrests, EU mission notes irregularity

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said he was concerned by reports of arrests of opposition members.

In a statement, he urged authorities "to stop arresting people arbitrarily and to uphold fully the due process rights of all those detained."

Meanwhile, an electoral observer mission for the European Union raised concerns around transparency.

"Observers reported extended breaks during the results tabulation process in almost half of observations, as the returning officers seemed to wait and receive instructions from... headquarters before announcing results," the mission said.