A former Zambian minister was fatally shot during a security forces raid on a residence tied to opposition leader Brian Mundubile, which occurred the day after the presidential election, officials said.
A police spokesperson said Mutotwe Kafwaya suffered fatal injuries when law enforcement officers opened fire during what officials described as an exchange of gunfire in a security operation in Lusaka on Friday.
Eleven individuals were detained in the operation, with authorities alleging that Mundubile’s party, the NRPUP, was engaged in insurgency and militia activities and possessed high‑grade weaponry.
Mundubile, who has gone into hiding, dismissed the claims as outright fabrications.
Official results showed incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema securing a second five‑year term with 60 % of the vote, while Mundubile, who received 38 %, said he would contest the outcome in court, alleging irregularities in the vote‑counting process.
On Tuesday, Mundubile said he had received no information about Kafwaya’s condition after the shooting, which he stated occurred at his residence during the raid.
Police confirmed Kafwaya’s death late on Wednesday, responding to increasing calls for information about his fate.
They said the 49‑year‑old was killed in a shootout during the raid by a joint security task force, noting that they faced gunfire and resistance from unidentified individuals, prompting them to return fire.
“In the process one unidentified male was fatally wounded and the firearm was recovered,” police said, adding that family members later identified the victim as Kafwaya.
Kafwaya first entered parliament in 2016 and was appointed by then‑President Edgar Lungu as minister of works in 2018, before moving to the transport ministry the following year. He remained in that post until 2021, when Lungu was defeated by Hichilema in the presidential election.
He continued to serve as an opposition member of parliament.
Regional and international observers described election day as largely peaceful, yet voiced concerns over late electoral reforms, media freedom, and media access in the period leading up to the vote.
The EU observation mission warned over the weekend that restrictions imposed on the opposition during the campaign may have contributed to an uneven contest.
