Authorities alleged that a political alliance associated with Mundubile was involved in insurgency and militia-related activities, claiming that weapons were also seized during the operation.

The security forces said the confrontation began after they encountered armed resistance while carrying out the raid.

According to the police, officers came under “gunfire and resistance from unknown individuals”, prompting them to respond with gunfire.

“In the process, one unidentified male person was fatally wounded, and the firearm was recovered,” the police said.

The deceased was later identified as Kafwaya by members of his family.

Mundubile, who has reportedly gone into hiding, rejected the allegations made against his political alliance, describing them as total fabrications.

He also said he had not been told where Kafwaya was taken after the former minister was shot during the operation.

The opposition leader has vowed to challenge the outcome of the presidential election in court, alleging irregularities in the electoral process.

Kafwaya, 49, entered Zambia’s Parliament in 2016 and subsequently served in former President Edgar Lungu’s administration.

He was first appointed Minister of Works and Supply before later becoming Minister of Transport and Communications.

After Lungu lost the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021, Kafwaya remained in Parliament as an opposition lawmaker.

Hichilema was declared the winner of the August 13 presidential election with roughly 60 per cent of the votes, while Mundubile secured about 38 per cent.

The disputed election has been followed by heightened political tensions, including the detention of opposition figures during the security operation.

The United Nations (UN) human rights chief has expressed concern about the arrests and urged the Zambian authorities to respect the due-process rights of those detained.

The European Union election observation mission has also questioned aspects of the electoral process, citing delays in the announcement of results, shortcomings in verification procedures and a significant military presence at some tallying centres.

The accident happened at 9:13 am local time (0613 GMT), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said in a statement, after the aircraft left from the Loisaba wildlife reserve.

Local media reported that the helicopter was carrying seven tourists when it crashed but their nationalities remain unknown.

The cause of the crash has not yet been established, with the KCAA saying investigations were under way.

The Kenya Red Cross also said that response operations were ongoing, part of a multi-agency team attempting to access the crash site.

In March, a helicopter crash in western Kenya killed six people, including a member of parliament.

AFP

The Act treats Saturdays differently. When a public holiday falls on a Saturday, no extra day is granted and the holiday is observed only on the Saturday itself. There is no equivalent provision triggering a Friday or Monday off in those cases.

The legislation also gives employers and workers some room to adjust how public holidays are observed.

Under Section 2(2), an official public holiday can be swapped for a different agreed day, provided both the employer and employee consent to the arrangement.

The announcement came after questions arose about whether the election could disrupt matric examinations, given that many schools double as voting stations.

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mmusi Maimane said the IEC had already worked through the concern.

“The IEC replied that through consultation with the Department of Basic Education, there will be minimal disruptions to matriculants as the day will be designated as a public holiday,” Maimane said.

Ramaphosa noted that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa supported the date partly because it falls outside the festive season, which is expected to improve voter turnout and limit the impact on schools.

Before the November holiday becomes official, two formal steps are still required. Hlabisa must first proclaim the election date in the Government Gazette, after which Ramaphosa is expected to issue a separate proclamation declaring the day a public holiday closer to the election.