The Zambia Police Service (ZPS) has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media that opposition leader Brian Mundubile had been arrested and detained.
ZPS Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi on Friday, 14 August, said Mundubile has not been arrested.
“The Service wishes to clarify that the allegations are false and misleading and should be disregarded by members of the public,” the statement said.
The police urged the public to refrain from creating, sharing or circulating unverified information, particularly during the election period, and warned that “any person who deliberately creates or circulates false information intended to mislead the public may face legal action in accordance with the law.”
The denial came amid a tense count and a surge of disinformation flagged by both the government and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Mundubile, the Tonse Alliance presidential candidate and first-time presidential contender, has claimed victory before any official result has been declared.
President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term and is widely thought to have the edge over Mundubile, with results due to be announced on Monday.
Earlier, Hichilema had called for patience in a post on social media.
Mundubile claimed he had won, without providing evidence, and called for the results to be released immediately.
In a video posted on his social media platforms, Mundubile said: “Based on information transmitted to us from polling stations and … centres across the country, our tabulation indicates that we have won this election.”
“We therefore view the continued delay in the transparent announcement and verification of presidential results with grave concern,” Mundubile added.
The ECZ has not yet announced any official results, although some preliminary counts have been released at constituency level.
On Friday, ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis announced that counting had resumed after a suspension triggered by reports of violence against officials and theft of ballot papers.
“The suspension of the counting and due announcement of results has been lifted with immediate effect,” she said.
Zaloumis urged all candidates to “desist from declaring themselves as the winners of these elections,” adding that it is an offence.
According to the Constitution of Zambia, no candidate, party official, observer mission or social media account has legal authority to declare the winner.
That authority rests solely with the ECZ Chairperson, and any declaration before then is not only misleading but punishable under electoral law.
Later on Friday, Mundubile claimed he had been detained and was being interrogated by soldiers over videos he had posted earlier.
Writing on Facebook, he said: “Just to confirm that I am being interrogated by officers from the Zambia Army over the two videos I released earlier today.
“I appeal for calm from all our supporters as we allow the due process to proceed.”
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