They had massed out at the national stadium in the hope of receiving cash handouts, but got volleys of tear gas canisters instead.
The cannisters were fired by police seeking to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Former Member of Parliament Emmanuel Jay Banda representing Petauke town had stirred them all, with his Facebook Live stream claim that he would be sharing US $6 million to them.
From early in the day, the vicinity of the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, venue of the supposed sharing had been filled by desperate Zambians.
The crowd; right Banda
That did not go down well with the authorities especially given Banda’s antecedents.
Amongst others, he is campaigning for Justice for Mutotwe Kafwaya, release of leading presidential leader Brian Mundubile and others, and justice for what he has described as stolen election.
Police Spokesperson, Godfrey Chilabi said the gathering followed a deceptive social media post by an online commentator.
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According to him, the man was encouraging members of the public to go to stadium, claiming that money would be distributed, but that in the process of engaging with the crowd, some of the people did not comply, resulting in them getting apprehended.
He has added that investigations into the matter are ongoing, even as Banda already has many charges to answer to.
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