In a move that will surely do wonders for political stability, Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile has been charged with treason, his lawyer announced on Saturday night. This comes after a week that included a deadly raid, a stint in hiding, and a brief residency at a UN building - because nothing says 'democracy' like seeking refuge with the international community.

Mundubile, who disputed the results of the 13 August presidential election that saw incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema win a second term with 60% of the vote, was arrested on Thursday. The authorities, never ones to let a little thing like due process get in the way, accused his NRPUP party of planning an armed insurgency. The party, for the record, denies this.

His lawyer, Milner Katolo, told the Zambian Eye that Mundubile is actually looking forward to answering the accusation in court. We're sure he is - nothing says 'confidence' like being charged with treason after your party's headquarters got raided and a former cabinet minister got killed.

In a package deal, 17 others, including Mundubile's running mate Makebi Zulu, were also charged with treason. Because why stop at one when you can charge a whole entourage?

The saga began the day after the election, when security forces raided a property in Lusaka linked to Mundubile, seizing weapons (the government says) and killing a former cabinet minister. Mundubile and Zulu then took refuge at a UN building, but President Hichilema apparently put the squeeze on the UN to hand them over, and they were detained.

Adding insult to injury, the opposition was unable to challenge the election outcome in court because the authorities sealed off the courts on the final day for filing such a case. A classic move: if you can't win the argument, just lock the courthouse.

Hichilema is set to be sworn in for a second term on 1 September. Meanwhile, Zambia's Human Rights Commission is calling for accountability over the whereabouts of people who have gone missing following arrests and security operations. Because transparency is always a nice touch.

Sure, regional and international observers called election day largely peaceful, but the aftermath has been anything but. Here's hoping everyone involved remembers that democracy is supposed to be about, you know, not charging your political rivals with treason.