Former Zambian minister, Mutotwe Kafwaya, has been shot dead during a security operation at a property reportedly linked to opposition leader Brian Mundubile in Lusaka.
Kafwaya was killed last Friday, according to the police, during a confrontation between security personnel and unidentified people at the property. The incident happened a day after Zambia held its presidential election.
According to the BBC, a joint security team carried out the operation, during which 11 people were arrested.
The authorities alleged that a political alliance linked to Mundubile was involved in insurgency and militia activities. Security forces also said weapons were recovered during the operation.
Police said the confrontation started after officers faced armed resistance while carrying out the raid.
According to the police, officers came under “gunfire and resistance from unknown individuals”, forcing them to respond with gunfire.
“In the process, one unidentified male person was fatally wounded, and the firearm was recovered,” the police said.
The man who was killed was later identified as Kafwaya by his family.
Mundubile, who has reportedly gone into hiding, denied the allegations against his political alliance and described them as total fabrications.
He also said he was not informed about where Kafwaya was taken after he was shot during the operation.
The opposition leader has vowed to challenge the result of the presidential election in court, alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
Kafwaya, 49, became a member of Zambia’s Parliament in 2016 and later served in the administration of former President Edgar Lungu.
He was first appointed Minister of Works and Supply before 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 winner of the August 13 presidential election with about 60 per cent of the votes, while Mundubile received about 38 per cent.
The disputed election has led to increased political tension, including the detention of opposition figures during the security operation.
The United Nations human rights chief has expressed concern over the arrests and urged the Zambian authorities to respect the due-process rights of those detained.
The European Union election observation mission also raised concerns about parts of the electoral process, including delays in announcing results, weaknesses in verification procedures and the presence of a large number of military personnel at some result-tallying centres.
