Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema was arrested on Tuesday and taken into detention after police raided his home, his spokesperson said, though no reason has been issued yet for the arrest.
Hichilema lost to President Edgar Lungu in the August 11 election, a vote he described as fraudulent. His attempts to mount a legal challenge have so far been unsuccessful.
Local media reported that the politician, commonly known as HH, was being questioned by the police, though details remain scanty.
Hichilema’s media aide Clayson Hamasaka said in a statement that “HH is now at Woodlands police station awaiting processes there. They are questioning him now.”
Hichilema’s lawyer Jack Mwiimbu said the opposition leader had been moved to Lilayi Police Training School in the capital for questioning.
“We have no idea what they want … we are on our way to Lilayi. This is something strange. It has never happened before. He is not well because of the tear gas. His wife fainted three times last night because of the tear gas,” Reuters reports Mwiimbu to say.
A spokesman for Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND), Charles Kakoma, said police broke doors to the opposition leader’s house in an exclusive suburb of Lusaka and fired tear gas canisters into the mansion. He said police had blocked the access road to the residence but did not say what they were looking for.
“They broke the doors and teargassed the house,” Kakoma said. “They left the home after picking him.”
