Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema sworn in for second term amid disputed election and arrests

President Hakainde Hichilema has been sworn in for a second term in Zambia after winning last month's election, even as his main rival remained in detention on treason charges and opposition figures faced arrests. The inauguration took place at National Heroes Stadium in the capital, Lusaka, on Tuesday. The ceremony came against a backdrop of persistent allegations of vote rigging and a sharp political dispute over the result.

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Hichilema was re-elected after securing 60% of the vote, according to the figures cited in the supporting material. His challenger, Brian Mundubile, received 38% and has alleged that the election was rigged. Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, were arrested on Thursday after spending two weeks seeking refuge with an international human rights organisation, and both were charged with treason.

Police have not given details of the allegations behind the charges, and both men deny wrongdoing. The political tension has been accompanied by wider disruption to the opposition. Around a dozen other opposition figures who questioned the election result have also been arrested.

Authorities abruptly closed the country's courts last week, a move criticised by Human Rights Watch because it prevents the opposition from filing legal challenges to the vote. The day after the August 13 election, police raided Mundubile's home, and a former cabinet member was shot and killed during that operation. The developments matter because they combine an election dispute with criminal charges, court closures and the detention of opposition figures, raising questions about the space for legal challenge and political contestation.

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Hichilema's second-term inauguration also signals continuity in a country that has been trying to stabilise its economy after debt restructuring and a period of high inflation. During the ceremony, he pledged to govern with equality and said he had heard those who voted for other candidates or parties. The inauguration drew leaders and dignitaries from several countries, including the United States and China, underlining the regional and international attention on the situation.

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan was among those present, and the presidents of Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe also attended. Hichilema's vice-president, Mutale Nalumango, was sworn in at the same ceremony. The presence of foreign leaders suggests that Zambia's political stability remains important beyond its borders, particularly as the country manages its economic recovery.

What remains unclear is how the treason cases against Mundubile and Zulu will proceed, especially while the courts have been closed. It is also not clear whether the arrests of other opposition figures will lead to further legal or political escalation. The next developments to watch are any reopening of the courts, any formal response from election authorities, and whether the opposition is able to mount a challenge to the result.

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