Zambian police dismiss Mundubile arrest claims

The Zambia Police Service has dismissed as false and misleading social media reports claiming that opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has been arrested and detained in police custody.

Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi said Mundubile had not been arrested and urged members of the public to disregard the reports.

"The Zambia Police Service wishes to clarify that the information circulating on social media alleging that Mr Brian Mundubile has been arrested and detained in police custody is false and misleading," Chilabi said.

He urged members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from creating, sharing or circulating unverified information, particularly amid heightened tensions following the country's elections.

The clarification comes as Zambia remains in a politically sensitive post-election period, with the Electoral Commission of Zambia having temporarily suspended the counting and announcement of election results nationwide following reports of violence at some centres.

Mundubile, a presidential candidate for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, has separately claimed that his party's parallel voter tabulation showed that it had won the election.

The opposition leader has also raised allegations of military interference at some polling stations and alleged tampering with electoral materials, claims that have not been independently verified.

Police warned that people who deliberately create or circulate false information with the intention of misleading the public could face legal action.

"Any person who deliberately creates or circulates false information intended to mislead the public may face legal action in accordance with the law," Chilabi said.

The police appealed to citizens to rely on verified information from official sources as the country awaits the resumption of the electoral results process.