Zambian opposition leader questioned by police - state media

Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who had gone into hiding after disputing the recent presidential election result, has been handed over to the police, state broadcaster ZNBC is reporting.

The official results from the 13 August poll showed that incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema won with a 60% share of the vote compared to Mundubile's 38%.

The day after the vote, security forces raided a property in the capital, Lusaka, linked to Mundubile, killing a former cabinet minister and arresting a number of other politicians.

The authorities accused the opposition of planning an armed insurgency, which they denied.

Following the raid, Mundubile went to a "secure location under the protection of an international human rights body due to threats made against him", his NRPUP party said.

ZNBC reports that the opposition leader, along with his running mate Makebi Zulu, had been protected by the United Nations in Lusaka.

It adds that the two are now being interviewed by "law enforcement officers" in the presence of their lawyers after a summons regarding "alleged activities that police say have the potential to threaten national security".

The opposition was unable to mount a legal challenge to the election outcome as the courts were sealed off by the authorities on Monday, the final day that a case could be filed.

Hichilema is due to be sworn in for a second term on 1 September.

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