Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second term in office after winning 60% of the vote, in an election that has been overshadowed by the arrest of opposition figures.
Hichilema's main rival - Brian Mundubile of the NRPUP party who came second with 38% - has said he will commence legal proceedings against the result, which he argued were not a "true reflection of what took place across this election."
Mundubile has since gone into hiding following the arrest of 11 opposition figures, which took place on 13 August after the vote but before the official results were announced. Top civil servant Patrick Kangwa said the arrests were in connection to "military plans involving foreign nationals and illegal military training camps". The opposition has denied any wrongdoing.
Joseph Siegle, director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington DC, tells African Business that the election was "a mixed bag."
Originally published by African Business.