Zambia post-election violence sees hundreds of arrests

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) – Police in Zambia have arrested and charged people in their hundreds for unlawful assembly and riotous behavior amid protests against the declaration of President Edgar Lungu as winner of the Aug. 11 election.

Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja told journalists on Tuesday that suspected supporters of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) had gone on the rampage, destroying private and public property shortly after Lungu was declared the winner.

The UPND commands strong support in five of 10 Zambian provinces. In Lusaka, the police chief reveled that supporters of the ruling party Patriotic Front have also been involved in violence, attacking UPND backers.

Meanwhile, UPND lawyers have filled a petition seeking to annul the declaration of Lungu as president.

The legal papers claim the Electoral Commission of Zambia violated the Electoral Act by declaring Lungu the winner before resolving allegations of fraud and misconduct.

According to an affidavit filed in the Constitutional Court by UPND Secretary General Steven Katuka, widespread electoral fraud, including falsification of election results, vote buying and unfair treatment of opposition parties, took place during the campaign.

The opposition is also angry that ministers were allowed to stay in their posts after parliament was dissolved before the election. It is claimed this allowed them to use public resources to campaign for the ruling party.