Rights group accuses Zambia of violent post-election crackdown on opposition

Zambian authorities forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, beat and threatened opposition members and supporters, lawyers, journalists and government critics in the days before and after August’s general election, Human Rights Watch saidJOHANNESBURG -- JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Zambia ’s government carried out a violent crackdown on opposition parties after August’s election, in which President Hakainde Hichilema won a second term, according to a Human Rights Watch report published Monday.Police and military personnel forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, beat and threatened opposition members, lawyers, journalists and government critics, the report said. It described a post-election climate of intimidation, harassment and repression that “had a chilling effect on civic and political organizations, particularly on dissenting voices.”Observers said the election was marred by irregularities.The report documented 14 cases of apparent enforced disappearance involving opposition members and supporters, as well as 61 cases in which detainees, their lawyers or relatives alleged beatings or other violent abuse during arrest and detention.“The authorities should immediately halt the on...