Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has been sworn in for a second
five-year term 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.