Zambia: opposition figure gets bail, charged with threatening President Lungu

A key Zambian opposition figure has rejected claims he’s threatening president Edgar Lungu with violence on Monday.

Geoffrey Mwamba, who has since been released after an arrest, is vice president of the United Party for National Development. The claims, he says, were made up. He faces some five years behind bars if found guilty.

Mwamba was last week arrested on charges of training party supporters to become illegal militia, something Zambian laws frown on.

Zambia opposition official freed on bail https://t.co/hL7lpIcZMf

— afrilocen (@afrilocen) March 7, 2016

National elections are due to hold on August 11 but heightened political tension has led to accusations being traded on the part of government and the opposition, there have been claims and counter claims from all competing sides.

Clashes between police on one side and supporters of the opposition on another side have taken place recently, leading to arrests.

The opposition says the arrests were intimidating and meant to cow them into submission ahead of the polls.