Arrests made, tear gas fired at home of Zambian opposition candidate

KASAMA , Zambia, July 20 (UPI) -- Police fired tear gas and made 28 arrests in a raid on the home of Zambia's opposition vice presidential candidate Wednesday.

The southern African country faces a presidential election in August, and police, saying they were looking for people suspected of vandalizing campaign posters, raided the Kasama home of Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, vice presidential candidate of the United Party for National Development. Mwamba was not at home at the time, but later said his grandchildren were injured in the attack by police.

"My small grandchildren have been taken to hospital as they have been victims of this barbaric act carried out by the police," he said.

Police said gasoline bombs and machetes were found in the home, but UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka said they were planted by police.

"The items allegedly found were only recovered once the house was cleared. We know these have been planted. We also categorically deny the existence of petrol bombs in the residence. What they claim to have found were in fact empty bottles, as you might find in any residence. Further, a large amount of money totaling 345,000 kwacha ($35) went missing from the house while it was being searched," he said.

Mwamba is the running mate of Hakainde Hichilema on the UPND ticket against incumbent President Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front Party.