Zambia's government announced on Sunday that police had arrested 11 people, including six opposition figures, in a raid against "militia activity."
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police → announce → activity
The arrests took place on Thursday night, according to a government statement.
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arrests → take → statement
"The individuals in issue were found in possession of high-grade military weapons, ammunition and other materials for use in armed insurrection," it said.
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it → find → insurrection
Zambia's main opposition party, the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Progress (NRPUP), said shots were fired in the raid, which took place at the home of its presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, as Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
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Presse → say → candidate
The party said it "rejects with absolute disdain the spurious and entirely false claims made by the Zambian Government that the NRPUP, its leadership or its members have been involved in insurgency, militia activity or any related conduct whatsoever."
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NRPUP → say → insurgency
Mundubile added that heavily armed personnel had raided his residence after the election in what he described as an attack on his life.
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he → add → life
He also claimed on social media that he was interrogated by army officers over videos he had released, and that he suffered mistreatment while in custody — accusations denied by the authorities.
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he → claim → authorities
The government has responded that those claims were "unsubstantiated," with outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Mulambo Haimbe telling DW that "the individuals that have been apprehended have been charged, first of all, and will face trial."
"So, it is not Mr Mundubile's place to make assertions on matters that will go through a court process," Haimbe stressed, adding that any actions taken by authorities were to make sure that the "security of the nation is not compromized" during the election process.
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security → respond → process
Concerns raised during Zambia vote counting
The arrests come amid an intensely contested election: The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) suspended vote counting for around six hours on Friday following reports of violence perpetrated against polling staff and the alleged theft of ballot papers.
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Commission → raise → papers
The count resumed after the commission announced that the "security threat" had eventually been contained, AFP reported.
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AFP → resume → ?
Mundubile argued that this suspension created opportunities for interference and manipulation of results, while the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) rejected the claims, saying he was attempting to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
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he → argue → process
Opposition figures say, however, that the concerns extend beyond the pause in the vote count.
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concerns → say → count
In a statement, Makebi Zulu, vice presidential candidate of the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance (TPA), alleged a broader pattern of interference involving electoral officials, missing polling documents, security force involvement and intimidation of opposition actors.
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Zulu → allege → actors
"A climate of fear cannot produce a free and fair election," Zulu warned.
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Zulu → produce → election
Bishops demand accountability
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Bishops → demand → accountability
Similar concerns have also been raised by Zambia's Conference of Catholic Bishops, which called on the ECZ to "account fully and publicly for the chain of custody of every affected ballot box and ballot paper."
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which → raise → box
The group of bishops, which wields considerable influence in the country, further urged authorities to ensure that any military deployment remain limited, transparent and temporary.
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deployment → wield → authorities
They also expressed concern over reports of harassment and the alleged detention of opposition officials by armed officers, calling for full transparency over the whereabouts of anyone held by authorities.
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They → express → authorities
"Any person held by state agencies must be promptly accounted for, granted access to legal counsel and family, and either charged according to law or released," the bishops said.
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bishops → hold → law
EU observers: election campaign held in 'a constrained democratic space'
International observers from the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) also voiced their concerns about aspects of the electoral process, including mounting reports of intimidation and tensions surrounding the counting process.
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observers → hold → process
SADC warned that the suspension of vote counting had generated "uncertainty and anxiety" among voters and political stakeholders.
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suspension → warn → voters
The European Union Election Observation Mission raised similar concerns, saying the campaign had been held in a "constrained democratic space," also citing reports of intimidation of opposition candidates, disruptions to some rallies, late changes to electoral laws and an uneven playing field, which it said favored the ruling party.
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it → raise → party
EU chief observer Michael McNamara also pointed to incumbency advantages and heavily pro-government state media coverage, arguing that key democratic freedoms had been restricted during the campaign.
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freedoms → point → campaign
The legacy of Edgar Lungu
This increasingly polarized political landscape in Zambia is shaped largely by the last transfer of power, which brought President Hakainde Hichilema to office in 2021 after his victory over former President Edgar Lungu.
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which → shape → Lungu
Since then, supporters of the former ruling Patriotic Front (PF) have accused the government of targeting Lungu allies through arrests and investigations, while the government has argued it is pursuing accountability after years of alleged corruption and abuse of power under the PF administration.
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it → rule → administration
Lungu died in South Africa last year, resulting in growing veneration among his followers and supporters.
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Lungu → die → followers
Cabinet Secretary Patrick Kangwa meanwhile said those taken into custody during the raids also included Patrick Mwansa, the husband of former President Lungu's daughter Tasila, who he said was being held at a police station in Lusaka.
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he → say → Lusaka
Optimism while waiting for final results
The election results have stirred a mix of hope, anxiety and strong reactions among Zambians.
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results → wait → Zambians
Gracious Kaoma, a political science student at the University of Zambia, said she was "very hopeful yet concerned" about the election "because the process has been unusually long and very challenging."
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process → say → election
She added that the violence surrounding the vote had been "painful to watch."
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violence → add → vote
Kaoma nevertheless expressed hope that Zambia's political leaders would "reconcile and put Zambia's needs first."
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leaders → express → needs
Haimbe echoed those sentiments, telling DW that Zambia is "a bastion of democracy on the African continent, and it is our intention as the UPND administration of President Hakainde Hichilema to grow from strength to strength in that regard."
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it → echo → regard
Meanwhile, Lusaka resident Lydia Zulu also expressed support for the incumbent leader, saying she was "happy that the elections have gone on peacefully and well.
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elections → express → leader
Because I have seen President Hakainde Hichilema is leading, I'm happy that he's coming back."
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he → see → ?
Final results are yet to be released, but according to the official tally, Hichilema appears to have widened his lead: ECZ figures from 70 of 226 constituencies show the incumbent ahead with 626,434 votes to challenger Brian Mundubile's 505,795 — a margin of more than 120,000 votes.
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figures → release → votes
While the outcome remains undecided for now, Mundubile has repeated his allegation of widespread irregularities, claiming victory based on his party's own vote count.
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Mundubile → remain → count
Electoral authorities, howver, have rejected those claims, stressing that only the ECZ can officially declare the election result.
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ECZ → reject → result
Kathy Short in Lusaka contributed reporting
Editors: Keith Walker and Sertan Sanderson
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Short → contribute → reporting
The Aporia
