UN sends representative as pressure mounts to hand over Mundubile, Zulu

9 Views LUSAKA — The United Nations has sent a representative to engage the Zambian authorities over the continued stay of NRP-UP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu at a UN facility in Lusaka, as Government continues to push for the two opposition leaders to be handed over. Mundubile and Zulu […]

9 Views

LUSAKA — The United Nations has sent a representative to engage the Zambian authorities over the continued stay of NRP-UP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu at a UN facility in Lusaka, as Government continues to push for the two opposition leaders to be handed over.

Mundubile and Zulu have remained at the UN premises since seeking protection following the post-election security operation at Mundubile’s residence in which former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was killed. Reports at the time said the two sought refuge at a UN agency in Lusaka amid fears of arrest.

The latest engagement between the UN and Government comes as authorities seek to have the two leaders leave the UN facility and face police questioning over alleged national security threats.

Police have said they want to question Mundubile and Zulu over alleged links to activities which they claim have the potential to threaten or undermine national security. The two have not accepted the allegations, with Mundubile previously describing them as fabricated.

The UN’s involvement has added an international dimension to an increasingly tense post-election dispute, with the organisation having already expressed concern over the arrest and detention of opposition figures.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called on Zambian authorities to stop arbitrary arrests and ensure due process for those detained.

The Commonwealth has also expressed concern over the post-election situation, calling for an end to arbitrary arrests, due process and the release of people detained for political reasons. It has further called for a transparent investigation into the security operation in which Kafwaya lost his life.

Government’s pressure to have Mundubile and Zulu handed over comes against the backdrop of the opposition’s attempt to challenge the August 13 presidential election outcome.

Mundubile had announced that he would petition the election result, alleging serious irregularities in the conduct, counting, transmission and declaration of the results.

The legal challenge has since become complicated after the Constitutional Court was closed on August 24, the final day of the seven-day period for filing a presidential petition.

The Judiciary later said documents described as “the people’s presidential petition” had been referred to the Constitutional Court by Chief Justice Mumba Malila for consideration on whether they could constitute a properly filed petition.

The continued presence of Mundubile and Zulu under UN protection therefore places the two issues — the security case against the opposition leaders and the disputed presidential election — at the centre of Zambia’s unfolding post-election crisis.