Retired Anglican Bishop Trevor Mwamba Detained on Treason Charges After Contested Zambia Vote

A retired Anglican bishop, Trevor Mwamba, 68, has been detained and charged with treason in Zambia amid a post‑election crackdown that has alarmed church leaders, diplomats and rights monitors.

Arrests, Charges and Detention

Bishop Mwamba was arrested the night after the Aug. 13 vote during a police operation at a Lusaka property linked to opposition runner‑up Brian Mundubile. He was among 12 people detained in that raid and later charged with treason alongside 17 other opposition figures. Authorities transferred Mwamba to Mukobeko maximum‑security prison in Kabwe. Family members have expressed concern about his welfare, saying he has a heart condition and needs regular medication.

Violence, Flight And Allegations

During the operation, former cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot and killed by police. Brian Mundubile went into hiding for two weeks before surrendering to authorities. Officials have accused Mundubile's party, the NRPUP, of involvement in insurgency and of storing "high‑grade" weapons; Mundubile has denied these claims, calling them "total fabrications."

Domestic And International Reaction

The treason charges — which now name 18 opposition figures, including Mundubile — have intensified fears about an erosion of democratic norms in the mineral‑rich southern African nation. Election observers have reported serious irregularities during vote counting, and rights monitors warn of widespread intimidation and arbitrary detentions of opposition supporters.

Bishop Trevor Mwamba, pictured in 2021, is being held in a high-security prison - Creative Commons/Don Carlo9898

"Concocted charges of treason — a capital offence — against senior opposition alliance leadership set a dangerous precedent," said Gina Romero, a UN special rapporteur, noting reports of systemic violations since the election.

Senior church figures have also voiced concern. Dr. Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town and leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, described Bishop Mwamba's detention as deeply disturbing and highlighted Mwamba's standing in the global Anglican Communion.

Western governments have raised the issue with Lusaka. A Foreign Office spokesman said the UK had pressed for transparency and due process. Zambia's justice ministry responded that the alleged offences "concern the security of the state and are among the gravest known to Zambian law," but emphasised that decisions on prosecution rest with the independent director of public prosecutions and that questions over the lawfulness of detentions are before the High Court.

Background On Key Figures

Bishop Trevor Mwamba served as bishop of Botswana from 2005 to 2013 and later held ministry roles in England, including a curacy in Notting Hill and as rector of Barking in the Diocese of Chelmsford. In 2021 he was elected president of Zambia's United National Independence Party (UNIP). President Hakainde Hichilema, who won a second term on Aug. 13, has previously navigated competing international interests for Zambia's mineral wealth and himself faced treason charges in 2016 while an opposition leader.

What Comes Next

The lawfulness of the detentions is now before the High Court. The justice ministry has pledged to respect judicial rulings and insisted that detentions are not for political or religious beliefs. Meanwhile, church leaders, rights advocates and diplomats continue to call for clear, transparent legal process and for detainees with medical needs to receive appropriate care.

Photo caption: Bishop Trevor Mwamba, pictured in 2021, is being held in Mukobeko maximum‑security prison.