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Zambia president inaugurated for second term after disputed vote and opposition arrests
Hichilema won 60% of the vote, while observers cited tally irregularities and the opposition leader and his running mate faced treason charges.
On Tuesday, President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second term at Lusaka's National Heroes Stadium, while main opposition leader Brian Mundubile remained imprisoned on treason charges.
Hichilema secured 60 percent of the vote in the August 13 election, though international observers cited irregularities in vote tallying, while Mundubile, who received 38 percent, alleged tampering.
Following the election, Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, were detained by authorities over the weekend, accused of national security threats and possession of weapons, though both deny the allegations.
Kenya President William Ruto and other African leaders attended the ceremony, yet critics warned that Zambia's democratic reputation faces peril after authorities sealed courts to prevent election challenges.
Pledging to shift "from stabilisation to growth," Hichilema aims to build on economic stabilization efforts, though around 70 percent of Zambians still live on less than three dollars daily.