A leader of Zambia's official opposition party was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of conducting drills of party supporters to become an illegal militia, police said on Wednesday.
Opposition leader arrested over illegal militia drills
Geoffrey Mwamba, vice president of the United Party for National Development, was released soon after his arrest and will appear in court on March 10, police spokeswoman Charity Chanda said.
Zambian opposition leader arrested over illegal militia drills
Last week President Edgar Lungu accused political opponents of training a militia group to cause violence during elections. They denied the accusation.
Geoffrey Mwamba, vice president of the United Party for National Development, was released soon after his arrest and will appear in court on March 10, police spokeswoman Charity Chanda said.
"He has been charged with illegal drilling," Chanda said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison, according to George Chisanga, chief of the southern African country's Law Association.
Police last week said they had arrested 21 United Party for National Development supporters found training in a gym on Mwamba's business premises, some with weapons like machetes and with live ammunition.
United Party for National Development President Hakainde Hichilema, who lost narrowly to Lungu in the last election, said Mwamba's arrest was an improper move to intimidate the opposition.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Parents put 3-month-old baby up for adoption so they can focus on work
Tinubu assures of more policies for nation’s industrialisation
Pelumi Nubi’s London-to-Lagos journey and West Africa’s border realities
Kano govt clears the air on alleged stray bullet incident involving journalist
Kebbi Gov won't hesitate to sign death warrant of convicted bandits' informants
Blackout hits Tanzania as Cyclone Hidaya makes landfall, Kenya braces itself
Popular footballer arrested over robbery that left 1 dead as police dismantle gang
When fire started on a boat, the captain was first to escape — 34 passengers died
Some Nigerians in public, private organisations using fake certificates - FG
ADVERTISEMENT
![33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]")