𝐄𝐱-𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦

Former Zambian minister Mutotwe Kafwaya has been killed during a security operation at a property linked to opposition leader Brian Mundubile in Lusaka, police have confirmed.

Kafwaya was fatally wounded during an exchange of gunfire between security forces and unidentified individuals on Friday, a day after Zambia’s presidential election.

According to police, the raid was conducted by a joint security task force, which arrested 11 people during the operation. Authorities alleged that Mundubile’s political alliance was involved in insurgency and militia activities and said weapons were recovered.

Mundubile, who has reportedly gone into hiding, rejected the allegations, describing them as fabrications. He also said he had not been informed about Kafwaya’s whereabouts after the former minister was shot during the operation.

In a statement confirming Kafwaya’s death, police said security forces encountered gunfire and resistance from unidentified individuals and responded with fire.

Police said an unidentified man was fatally wounded during the exchange and that a firearm was recovered from the scene. Kafwaya was later identified by members of his family.

Kafwaya, 49, first became a lawmaker in 2016 and later served as Zambia’s Minister of Works and Supply before becoming Minister of Transport and Communications under former President Edgar Lungu.

He remained a member of the opposition after Lungu lost the 2021 presidential election to incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema.

Hichilema was declared the winner of the August 13 presidential election with about 60 per cent of the vote, while Mundubile secured about 38 per cent. Mundubile has said he intends to challenge the result in court over alleged irregularities.

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

The United Nations human rights chief has expressed concern over the arrests and urged Zambian authorities to uphold the due-process rights of detainees.

The European Union election observation mission also raised concerns about the vote-counting process, citing delays, weak verification procedures and a heavy military presence at some tallying centres.

Kafwaya’s death is expected to attract further scrutiny as questions grow over the circumstances surrounding the security operation and the treatment of opposition figures following the election.