Government dismisses Kafwaya shooting claims as “total fabrication”

Government dismisses claims regarding the shooting of Kafwaya as “total fabrication” The Ministry of Defence has dismissed as false claims that National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity member and Tonse Alliance finance chairperson Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot by the…

Government dismisses claims regarding the shooting of Kafwaya as “total fabrication”

The Ministry of Defence has dismissed as false claims that National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity member and Tonse Alliance finance chairperson Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot by the army and admitted to Maina Soko Medical Centre, describing the allegations as a total fabrication intended to alarm the public during the ongoing announcement of election results.

This incident has raised questions about the safety of political figures like Kafwaya during this election period.

The claims first surfaced in a Facebook post by Makebi Zulu, running mate to NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, who alleged that Kafwaya was in a critical condition at the military facility after suffering two gunshot wounds to his chest. Mundubile separately posted that he and his family, along with other Tonse Alliance members, had been picked up from their residence and taken to army headquarters, and that soldiers had forced their way into his master bedroom.

Speaking at Maina Soko Medical Centre, Defence Permanent Secretary Maambo Haamaundu said the claims regarding Kafwaya’s alleged shooting and admission to the military hospital were entirely without foundation.

“We need to be serious as a people. We need to move away from fabrication of information. I can confirm to members of the public that this is false and unfounded,” Haamaundu said.

He said medical staff at the health facility had confirmed that no patient by the name of Mutotwe Kafwaya had been admitted there in the previous 48 hours.

“There is no patient by the name of Mutotwe Kafwaya in this facility unless there is a different Maina Soko and not this particular facility,” Haamaundu said.

Flanked by Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, Haamaundu urged political players to desist from spreading falsehoods that could inflame tensions during a sensitive period in the electoral process.

Kawana separately dismissed claims that Patrick Mwansa, husband to Tasila Lungu, had been shot dead, describing the allegation as mere social media banter propagated to cause mayhem and confusion among members of the public. He said government investigations, conducted through Haamaundu, had established that the claims were false and had no credibility.

“It’s all lies, internet banter. I’ve engaged the management here, at no time in the last 48 hours have they received any patient by the name of honourable Mutotwe Kafwaya. So, it’s a total fabrication, which is really, really unacceptable,” Kawana said.

Kawana challenged those circulating the claims to provide evidence and warned that individuals making statements that could incite the public might be required to account for their remarks after the electoral process concludes.

“The relatives of Mr Kafwaya and Mr Mwansa should come forward and show us that they have been shot and that they are at the bedside. And if Mr Mwansa is dead, why isn’t Tasila Lungu, his wife, saying anything about her husband being dead because it is all a lie. I saw her urging the people to vote, which can’t be the case if she was a widow,” Kawana said.

He further described the claims as an agenda to disrupt the electoral process at the expense of national peace and security, cautioning that circulating such information could alarm and agitate members of the public.

“Niwenye!! It is all a lie!! They are just acting comedy. Makebi Zulu is saying one thing, Brian Mundubile is also saying another thing,” Kawana said.

Mundubile, in his Facebook posts, claimed that soldiers had taken him and Kafwaya to the Command Centre, where he was questioned about recent Facebook videos in which he claimed victory in the August 13 elections.

Zulu, in a separate post, said Kafwaya remained at Maina Soko Military Hospital in critical condition after suffering two gunshot wounds to the chest.

Kawana rejected these claims outright, saying he had visited the medical centre in person and confirmed with hospital staff, including the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, that no such patient existed.

“So, Mr Haamaundu, please explain to the people, explain to the Zambians, is honourable Kafwaya here at Maina Soko, and was honourable Kafwaya shot by your army. Maybe just to appeal to colleagues in NRPUP that maybe it’s time they stopped this because clearly it looks like it’s a game to them but maybe it’s time they considered stopping it. There are matters that they have raised and we will address them but they may be the last day. Maybe our colleagues there in NRPUP should consider that we give it a rest now and concentrate on what really the country is interested in at the moment, and this is the counting of the ballots and the eventual declaration of the winner. We’ll see you soon,” Kawana said.

Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo urged citizens to stop issuing inciting statements, warning that police would not sit back and allow alarming claims to threaten peace in the country.

“We have noted with concern, some of the statements that are coming from politicians in particular, very, very alarming statements that may put the country on fire. Police will not just sit back, at some point, those people who are making alarming statements that may incite people to go on the streets so we continue to being peaceful, ignore these people, they are liars. Mr Mundubile is a liar, Mr Makebi Zulu is a liar. I saw Tasila Lungu, she was urging the people to come out and vote, why would Tasila Lungu not come out now and say my husband is missing, or my husband has been detained or my husband has been detained or my husband is dead because it’s a lie,” Matembo said.

Matembo warned that individuals circulating false information would be held accountable, urging citizens to disregard the claims and remain calm as the ECZ completes counting and verification of results.