Mundubile, Makebi Zulu, Findlay Transferred to Mukobeko on Treason Charges

Opposition leader Brian Mundubile, his running mate Makebi Zulu and businessman Harry Findlay were flown under armed guard to Mukobeko Maximum Security Facility in Kabwe on Saturday, hours after being charged with treason alongside sixteen others. The trio were airlifted aboard a…

Opposition leader Brian Mundubile, his running mate Makebi Zulu and businessman Harry Findlay were flown under armed guard to Mukobeko Maximum Security Facility in Kabwe on Saturday, hours after being charged with treason alongside sixteen others.

The trio were airlifted aboard a Zambia Police Service helicopter between 05:00 and 06:00 hours and received at the facility by prison officials, according to their lawyer, Milner Katolo.

Police say the three conspired to overthrow the government by unlawful means between 1 and 16 August in Lusaka, an offence charged under Section 43 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Zambia Police Service spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed the charges were formalised on Saturday, putting the total number of accused at 18.

A day after the election results were announced, security personnel raided a property in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area linked to Mundubile. Several suspects were nabbed at the scene.

Police say firearms, ammunition and tactical gear, allegedly connected to an armed insurrection plot, were recovered from the property.

Following the raid, Mundubile and Zulu took refuge inside a United Nations building in Lusaka. The UN, working alongside church mother bodies, later handed the pair to their lawyers.

The two politicians were subsequently picked up by police for questioning before being formally charged.

Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia. The case will be heard exclusively by the High Court, meaning neither man can apply for bail at a lower court while the matter proceeds.

Mundubile contested the 13 August presidential election as candidate for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Progress. He secured 38 percent of the vote against President Hakainde Hichilema’s 60 percent, according to results declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Others jointly charged with Mundubile and Zulu include Trevor Mwamba, lawyer George Chisanga, Patrick Mwansa and Jackson Mutyoka.

Also facing charges are Brazil Soko, Bernard Chewe, Simon Phiri, Richard Banda, Francis Mulenga, Emmanuel Mulenga and Darius Mwila.

Katolo said the accused will appear in court once committal proceedings have concluded, adding that investigations remain ongoing.

Mukobeko Maximum Security Facility has been cordoned off by combined teams of military and police personnel, with access to the area restricted.

Security has also been heightened in Kabwe town, according to police.

The developments come as Zambia braces for tomorrow’s presidential inauguration, with the country’s security wings on heightened alert around the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

The case has already drawn sharply divided reaction from political and civic figures. Tonse Alliance secretary general Dr Chris Zumani Zimba has called for dialogue and a political ceasefire, citing the human cost of the post-election crisis, including reported detentions and the death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya.

By contrast, UPND campaign chairman for Southern Province John Chidyaka has urged Zambians to move past politicking and focus on national development, describing the inauguration as a unifying moment for the country.

Governance watchdogs, including the Foundation for Democratic Process, have separately urged losing candidates pursuing election petitions to ensure they have sufficient evidence before approaching the courts.

The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Progress has not yet issued a formal response to the treason charges against its leadership.

The Mukobeko transfer follows a period of heightened uncertainty since results were declared, during which opposition figures disputed the outcome and several parliamentary petitions were filed challenging results in individual constituencies.

Police say investigations into the alleged conspiracy remain active, with further details expected to be released in due course.