Lusaka – Zambian police surrounded opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema's home in the capital on Tuesday, his party's spokesperson said, but authorities could not immediately say why they had sealed off the politician's residence.

Hichilema, a wealthy economist, was defeated by President Edgar Lungu in an election last August, which he described as fraudulent.

However, his attempts to mount a legal challenge have so far been unsuccessful.

A spokesperson 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 teargas canisters into the mansion.

"The police have not told us what they are looking for. They have blocked the access road to Hakainde's residence. They broke the doors and teargassed the house," Kakoma said.