In order to stop what he considered political violence, President Edgar Lungu ordered the Army, the Air Force and the National Service to help police deal with the security situation, the Lusaka Times newspaper reported.

So far, there have been clashes in the capital, in some areas in the north and south of the country, mostly between supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), amid fears of this type of shock will affect the development of polls.

According to police sources, two alleged PF supporters were assassinated in the capital’s municipality of Kanyam by alleged members of the UPND.

According to the Deputy Inspector General of Public Force, Charity Katanga, these events led to a series of night police operations in the area, where 43 people were arrested on Saturday, including four suspects of the crimes, who were identified as members of the opposition party.

President Lungu stated that ‘maintaining law and order is a daily task of the Police, but sometimes they need the help of other security forces.

Defense personnel have already been deployed in some parts of Lusaka and it will be done in other parts of the country if the situation demands so.’

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