ZAMBIA: Zambian police fire tear gas at opposition supporters

Lusaka – Zambian law enforcement on Monday continued to persecute members of the opposition as they fired tear gas on United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters marching to the Lusaka Central Police Station to demand the release of the party's vice president, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.

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According to Daily Nation, Mwamba was arrested over the weekend for allegedly threatening violence against President Edgar Lungu.

The UPND supporters, who chanted slogans against Lungu as they marched to the police station, were forced to seek refuge at nearby boutiques, supermarkets and restaurants after tear gas was fired at them, the Post said.

"GBM achoke (free GBM)! Free GBM! Viva HH," the supporters chanted.

It, however, remained unclear when Mwamba would be released.

Meanwhile, in a different report by the Post, Father Leonard Chiti warned that Zambia could turn into chaos if law enforcement agencies continued to persecute members of the opposition.

Chiti, who is the director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, challenged Lungu to use his powers to command the law enforcement agencies to be objective in the application of the law to avoid plunging the country into chaos.

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