Human Rights Watch says Zambian police and soldiers disappeared and beat opposition members after the August election

Human Rights Watch has accused Zambia's police and military of forcibly disappearing, arbitrarily detaining, beating and threatening opposition members, lawyers, journalists and critics of the government before and after the 13 August general election, which President Hakainde Hichilema won. In a report issued from Johannesburg, the group says authorities have not credibly explained or investigated the death of Mr Kafwaya, a former minister linked to the opposition. The organisation counts 14 cases in August that appear to be enforced disappearances, with some victims held for days and a few saying the military had them. It lists 61 cases of alleged beatings or other violence during arrest or detention, 18 people charged with treason (two of them also facing sedition), and 71 arrests or long detentions without charge that may have been politically motivated. Seven people, among them lawyers and a journalist, fled after hearing they were wanted. The government has not published the total number of people arrested, so the group believes the real figure is higher. The report centres on 14 August, when security forces raided the Lusaka home of Tonse Alliance leader Brian Mundubile. Opposition members say Mr Kafwaya was killed there. Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba has said he died in a joint intelligence-led operation after gunfire and resistance. Mr Mundubile, arrested on 27 August and charged with treason and seditious practices alongside running mate Makebi Zulu, says in a High Court petition that he saw a soldier shoot Mr Kafwaya. Human Rights Watch says officials gave conflicting accounts, with police first denying a raid and denying that Mr Mundubile was in custody. The group also says 43 opposition election monitors held from 14 August were out of contact for eight days while police denied having them, and that a court ordered their release on 10 September. Deputy Africa Director Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz said the government "should break this dangero