Former diplomat and campaign aide reportedly taken in Lusaka as pressure on opposition grows

77 Views LUSAKA – A former Zambian ambassador and a senior media official with an opposition alliance were reportedly seized by armed men in the capital on Sunday morning, in an incident that opposition leaders say points to a wider crackdown ahead of national elections. The two women are identified as Ambassador Martha Lungu Mwitumwa, […]

77 Views

LUSAKA – A former Zambian ambassador and a senior media official with an opposition alliance were reportedly seized by armed men in the capital on Sunday morning, in an incident that opposition leaders say points to a wider crackdown ahead of national elections.

The two women are identified as Ambassador Martha Lungu Mwitumwa, who previously served as Zambia’s envoy to Switzerland and as permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, and Hannah Katontoka, also known as Hanna Israel, who works as media manager for the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance.

According to family accounts, the pair left a home in the PHI area shortly after 7am in a white Nissan Juke with registration BCH 639. They were on their way to a church service in Libala where opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate were expected.

Between 7.40am and 7.50am, near the InterContinental Hotel and the Indian High Commission, the women are said to have made a distress call. They reported being followed by three unmarked white vehicles described as a Toyota Hilux, an Isuzu pickup and a Ford Ranger.

Video that has circulated online and reviewed by this publication shows the car being boxed in. Shots can be heard. Armed men then approach the vehicle and force the two women out. Relatives and witnesses described the scene as chaotic and coordinated, and said it resembled an armed operation carried out with precision.

When family members went to police to report the women missing, they were told there was no record of an arrest and no information about any police operation in that area at that time. The lack of an official response has heightened concern among the families and among opposition figures, who say the case fits a pattern of enforced disappearances.

The reported abduction comes days after a separate mass detention in Mongu in Western Province. Opposition officials say at least 32 people linked to Mundubile’s campaign were taken into custody there last week. The group is said to include campaign security staff, support workers, and several public figures. Those named include Abraham Rooney Kapya, a man identified only as Zubi, musician Moses Ng’andwe who is known as Chester, singer Felix Mangani Phiri who performs as Felix Ndangeni Inshila, and comedian Winston Ngosa known as IDC Light Comedy. Authorities have not announced any charges.

There was also heightened police presence reported in Livingstone over the weekend. Opposition leaders said they had intelligence of planned arrests and possible violence if the campaign proceeded with a scheduled visit, and Mundubile cancelled the trip hours before departure.

Opposition leaders allege that the operations are being coordinated from the top of government under President Hakainde Hichilema, and that the aim is to weaken political competition before voting. They point to the targeting of a career diplomat as evidence of how far the situation has deteriorated. They argue that someone who once represented Zambia abroad should not be subjected to this kind of treatment at home.

The government and police had not issued a formal statement on the Lusaka incident or on the wider pattern of detentions at the time of publication. Critics say the silence leaves those affected in legal uncertainty, without access to lawyers or family, and outside normal due process.

Diplomatic observers in Lusaka said they are watching the developments closely. They noted that what began as questioning of campaign organizers has expanded into public seizures and prolonged detentions without clear charges. They warned that this erodes confidence in the electoral process and in institutions that are meant to protect citizens.

For the families of Ambassador Lungu Mwitumwa and Ms Katontoka, the priority remains to locate the two women and to confirm their safety. They were taken in daylight, on a busy road, and in view of other motorists. The central questions being asked are straightforward. If state agents were not involved, who carried out the seizure. If state agents were involved, why has there been no acknowledgment and no record.

Mundubile has publicly condemned the arrests and abductions and has urged supporters to remain peaceful. He has also called on the police to act professionally and to follow the law.

The reported incidents add to tension in the final days before the vote. Opposition parties say they are documenting each case and will present them to election observers and human rights bodies. Government supporters argue that law enforcement is simply responding to complaints and that no one should be above the law.

Until there is clarity from authorities, the uncertainty will continue to hang over the campaign. Families are waiting for answers. Witnesses are waiting for an investigation. And voters are watching to see whether the institutions meant to guarantee a free and fair election can demonstrate that they are independent and accountable.

All details in this account are drawn from family statements, witness descriptions and video material that has been shared publicly. Allegations of state involvement have not been proven. Attempts to reach the Zambia Police Service and the Office of the President for comment were made ahead of publication.