(Bloomberg) --

Police in Zambia say 43 people were killed and 23 others injured in mob violence across the country on people suspected of being responsible for attacking homes with poisonous sprays.

Police have so far received 511 reports of incidents of “chemical spraying of poisonous substances on households” that have affected 1,687 victims, Inspector General Kaakoma Kanganja told reporters Saturday in the capital, Lusaka. “Sixteen suspects have been arrested.”

Rioters attacked police stations in parts of the country as they sought to give instant justice to suspects in custody, according to the police, with five people held for inciting mob violence facing murder charges.

Zambian Vice President Inonge Wina said the series of attacks using harmful gas were part of an orchestrated plan to destabilize the country. Africa’s second-biggest copper producer, which is scheduled to hold elections in 2021, would not tolerate attempts to undermine the government, Wina told lawmakers on Friday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Taonga Clifford Mitimingi in Lusaka at tmitimingi@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net, Dulue Mbachu, Todd White

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