Zambian security forces have arrested 11 people, including senior opposition figures, and seized weapons and ammunition in Lusaka over an alleged plot to stage an armed insurrection. Government chief secretary Patrick Kangwa said those detained were linked to alleged military plans involving foreign nationals and illegal training camps. Opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile was reportedly at the scene of the raid and described it as an attempt on his life, while authorities said officers exchanged fire with suspects.
The arrests come amid tensions following last Thursday’s presidential election, in which Mundubile is trailing incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema in the preliminary count. Mundubile has alleged electoral irregularities and military involvement in the process, claims rejected by authorities. The Electoral Commission briefly suspended the counting after reports of violence against polling staff and theft of ballot papers, but later resumed the process after declaring the security situation under control.
