Zambian police have arrested 133 people protesting against the re-election of President Edgar Lungu after his main opponent Hakainde Hichilema said the vote was rigged, a senior officer said on Tuesday.

Lungu scraped home on Monday in a tight contest to rule over Africa’s second-largest copper producer which has suffered an economic slump due to depressed commodity prices.

“They targeted perceived supporters of the ruling party, destroying their property,” Southern province police chief Godwin Phiri told Reuters.

“It is like this was well planned and they were just waiting for the winner to be declared. Calm has now returned following the arrests,” he added.

 

(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by James Macharia)

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