LUSAKA, Zambia – President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second five-year term on Tuesday at National Heroes Stadium while his main election rival sat in detention on treason charges, deepening a post-vote crisis in the copper-rich country.
Official results from the Aug. 13 election gave Hichilema about 60 percent of the vote and runner-up Brian Mundubile about 38 percent. Mundubile alleged the tally was tampered with. He could not file a challenge after authorities sealed the courts on the final day for petitions, Human Rights Watch and opposition lawyers said.
The day after the poll, security forces raided a Lusaka property linked to Mundubile, killing a former cabinet minister and arresting opposition figures. Mundubile and running mate Makebi Zulu later went into hiding, were detained last week, and were charged with treason at the weekend; they deny the allegations.
In his inauguration speech, Hichilema did not name Mundubile but said the “pursuit of political power must never come at the expense of peace, security and stability.” He told the crowd Zambia was “moving from stabilisation to growth.” Vice President Mutale Nalumango was sworn in the same ceremony. Presidents from Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Tanzania attended.
Sources: BBC; Al Jazeera.
