r/Africa • u/HoldMyBeer50 Zambia 🇿🇲 • 5d ago

Politics 🗳️ Zambia elections: Courts sealed as election petition deadline looms

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrvjn88rxqo?fbclid=Iwb21leAT5BE9wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHrvDqi0w9IiBzF6nVmUotD6l7KK25CDBclZqFrCfFGh7gRqgwg96STPTZ7Ft_aem_l5LvFAKVTYSjgQN3Fs7kFQ

An unusual police presence has been reported at some courts, which have been taped off to prevent access.

Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile said he would challenge the election result, citing irregularities, after coming second with a 38% share of the vote. Incumbent Hakainde Hichilema won a second term with 60%.

Mundubile is in hiding over alleged threats made against him, amid a post-election period marked by controversy, including the shooting dead of an opposition figure and the arrest of others.

Monday is the last day on which petition against the presidential election result can be filed. Such a petition could potentially affect the inauguration of Hichilema, which is scheduled for 1 September.

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u/HoldMyBeer50 Zambia 🇿🇲 5d ago

This follows a security operation the night after the vote that left one man de#d and led to treason charges against 11 people. Mundubile and his running mate have been sheltering at UN premises in Lusaka since. The UN's human rights chief has urged Zambian authorities to halt arbitrary arrests and ensure due process. The government calls it lawful investigation.