Zambia’s Democratic Facade Fractures in Post-Election Crackdown

While the government says it is preventing an insurrection, activists and international observers have raised fears about arbitrary arrests and electoral fraud. John Eligon reported from Johannesburg and Rabecca Lungu from Lusaka, Zambia Political turmoil is growing in Zambia after the arrest of dozens of opposition politicians, the fatal shooting of a former government minister and new reports suggesting that President Hakainde Hichilema benefited from fraud in the recent presidential election . The tumult in the wake of his re-election last week has cast a cloud over Mr. Hichilema’s victory. When he was first elected five years ago, he was lauded as a champion of democracy in Africa.

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