Kafwaya Family Declines Government Funeral Honours, Opts for Private Burial

The family of former Cabinet Minister and Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya has declined the Government’s offer to accord him funeral and burial honours reserved for former Cabinet ministers, opting instead for a private funeral and burial. Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said Government extended the offer in recognition of Kafwaya’s service to […]

The family of former Cabinet Minister and Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya has declined the Government’s offer to accord him funeral and burial honours reserved for former Cabinet ministers, opting instead for a private funeral and burial.

Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said Government extended the offer in recognition of Kafwaya’s service to the country during his time in Cabinet.

Kafwaya served as Minister of Works and Supply from 2018 to 2019 before being appointed Minister of Transport and Communications, a position he held from 2019 to 2021.

However, Kangwa said the Kafwaya family respectfully declined the offer and decided to proceed with its own funeral arrangements.

“The family, however, respectfully declined the offer by Government and opted to host a private funeral arrangement,” Kangwa stated.

The family is today preparing to bid farewell to Kafwaya, who died during a joint security operation in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area on August 14, 2026, a day after Zambia’s general election.

Kafwaya’s death was later confirmed by Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba following reports circulating on social media concerning his whereabouts.

According to the Zambia Police Service, Kafwaya was among individuals present at a residence in Kabulonga when security agencies conducted what authorities described as a joint intelligence-led operation.

Police said officers encountered gunfire and resistance from unidentified individuals upon arrival at the residence, resulting in an exchange of fire.

Kafwaya was wounded during the operation and was later pronounced dead.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of 11 people, who police said were being investigated in connection with suspected offences relating to treason and other offences that may arise from investigations.

Several firearms, ammunition and other equipment were also reportedly recovered from the premises.

Kafwaya’s funeral service is scheduled for 14:30 hours today at the Tabernacle of David Assembly City Mission Church in Lusaka, where he served as a church elder for more than 20 years.

He will thereafter be transported to his home village in Lunte, where he will be buried.

The Government has meanwhile called on members of the public to respect the family’s decision to hold a private funeral as relatives, friends and other mourners gather to pay their final respects to the former Cabinet minister and parliamentarian.

“Our prayers go out to the bereaved family,” Kangwa said.

Kafwaya’s death and the circumstances surrounding the Kabulonga security operation have continued to attract public attention, while investigations into the incident and the people arrested during the operation remain ongoing.