Zambia Raid Turns Deadly as Former Minister Is Killed at Opposition Leaders Home

Posted by Chinenye on Fri 21st Aug, 2026 - tori.ng

A tense security operation at an opposition leaders residence has taken a shocking turn, leaving a former minister dead and raising fresh questions just days after Zambias disputed election.

(Zambian Ex-Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya. Photo Credit; News Central)

A former government minister in Zambia was k!lled during a security raid at the home of an opposition political leader days after the country's president won re-election.

Police said the operation took place on Wednesday, just after the August 13 presidential election.

The d£ad man was Mutotwe Kafwaya, 49, a member of parliament.

He was at the residence of Brian Mundubile, the opposition leader who came second in the recent election, when armed forces carried out the raid.

Authorities said they were searching for members of a suspected militia group that posed a threat to the country's security.

According to police, security forces came under gunfire when they arrived at the location, and officers fired back in response.

During the exchange, one man was fatally wounded later confirmed to be Kafwaya and a gun was recovered from the scene.

Police arrested 11 people during the operation, including three former military commandos.

Mundubile rejected the government's claim that his political alliance had any connection to a militia or insurgent group, calling the allegations completely false.

He said Kafwaya had been caught in the crossfire during the raid.

Kafwaya had previously served as a cabinet minister under the country's former ruling government from 2016 to 2021.

He later switched to the opposition and became a lawmaker during Hichilema's first presidency, which lasted from 2021 to 2026.

The recent election saw President Hichilema win with roughly 60 percent of the vote, while Mundubile received about 38 percent.

Mundubile has said his campaign team documented serious problems with how the election was conducted and plans to take the matter to court to challenge the results.

International election observers have reported claims from the opposition about intimidation, arrests, abductions, and violence during the election period.

The United Nations' top human rights official has urged Zambian authorities to stop making arbitrary arrests and to ensure that those who have been detained are treated fairly and have access to proper legal procedures.