Zambia's president to be sworn in for second term while opponent detained

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.

European Union observers said staff in many tallying centres did not record results on tally sheets as soon as they were announced and cited weak verification between digital entries and paper records.

It added that returning officers frequently paused proceedings while awaiting instructions from headquarters.

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

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