Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who had gone into hiding after disputing the recent presidential election result, has been detained over allegations of treason.

The official results from the 13 August poll showed that incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema won with a 60% share of the vote compared to Mundubile's 38%.

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

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

Following the raid, Mundubile went to a "secure location under the protection of an international human rights body due to threats made against him", his NRPUP party said.

The opposition leader's running mate Makebi Zulu was also taken into police custody on Thursday.

The pair had taken refuge with the United Nations in the capital after security forces killed a former cabinet minister and arrested a number of politicians in a raid. They were detained after the president put pressure on the UN to hand him over.

On Thursday state broadcaster ZNBC said that the two were being interviewed by "law enforcement officers" in the presence of their lawyers after a summons regarding "alleged activities that police say have the potential to threaten national security".

The opposition was unable to mount a legal challenge to the election outcome as the courts were sealed off by the authorities on Monday, the final day that a case could be filed.

Hichilema is due to be sworn in for a second term on 1 September.

By BBC