Kafwaya family cancels funeral after finding remains without clothes

50 Views LUSAKA — The family of slain former Cabinet Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya has cancelled his planned funeral church service and burial procession after allegedly discovering that his remains had been received without clothes. Kafwaya was shot dead during a security operation at the residence of opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile in Lusaka. The family […]

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LUSAKA — The family of slain former Cabinet Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya has cancelled his planned funeral church service and burial procession after allegedly discovering that his remains had been received without clothes.

Kafwaya was shot dead during a security operation at the residence of opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile in Lusaka.

The family had scheduled a church service in Lusaka this afternoon, followed by the transportation of his remains to his home constituency of Lunte in Northern Province, where burial arrangements were expected to continue.

According to Kafwaya’s brother, the family was scheduled to leave Lusaka at 04:00 hours tomorrow for Lunte.

However, the entire funeral programme has now been suspended following what the family described as disturbing circumstances surrounding the condition in which Kafwaya’s remains were returned.

Speaking to the media in Lusaka this afternoon, an emotional family representative said the family discovered that Kafwaya’s body had no clothes and was not even wearing shoes.

He said the family sought an explanation from the authorities and was allegedly informed that Kafwaya’s clothes had been heavily soaked in blood and were subsequently burnt.

The family further claims that Kafwaya’s warrant and mobile phone were also burnt.

The brother said the circumstances had left the family facing a difficult decision over how to take the remains to Lunte, saying people in the village and the traditional leadership would not accept the body in its current state because Kafwaya had left home fully dressed.

He said the family had become overwhelmed by its dealings with the authorities and was now appealing to members of the public to come forward and assist them in resolving the matter.

The family has also previously rejected an offer by the Government to take over the funeral arrangements and accord Kafwaya an official funeral in recognition of his former position as a Cabinet Minister.

The latest development has therefore thrown the former minister’s funeral arrangements into uncertainty, with the planned Lusaka church service and the journey to Lunte both cancelled.

The family has not indicated when the funeral programme will resume.

Kafwaya’s death occurred during a joint security operation at Mundubile’s residence, an incident that has generated heightened political tensions and calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family’s account regarding the handling of Kafwaya’s remains has not, in the statement provided, been independently verified.