Mundubile confirms Army interrogation as questions emerge over Friday night incident

Mundubile confirms Army interrogation as questions emerge over Friday night incident NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has confirmed that he was interrogated by officers from the Zambia Army, as conflicting reports continue to emerge about events surrounding his Lusaka…

Mundubile confirms Army interrogation as questions emerge over Friday night incident

NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has confirmed that he was interrogated by officers from the Zambia Army, as conflicting reports continue to emerge about events surrounding his Lusaka residence and the whereabouts of some people reportedly with him at the time.

The development followed several claims circulated on social media on Friday suggesting that Mundubile had been arrested, shot or detained at Ibex Hill Police Station. Some reports went further and falsely claimed that he had died.

The Zambia Police Service denied that Mundubile had been arrested or was being held in police custody. Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi described the reports as false and misleading and urged members of the public not to circulate unverified information during the sensitive election period.

However, Mundubile later confirmed that he had been questioned by Zambia Army officers rather than the police.

“Just to confirm that I am being interrogated by officers from the Zambia Army over the two videos I released earlier today. I appeal for calm from all our supporters as we allow the due process to proceed,” Mundubile said in a message reported by News Diggers.

Mundubile subsequently appeared on Emmanuel Mwamba’s online platform, where he made further allegations about what had happened at his residence. He claimed that soldiers had entered and searched the property and alleged that former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya had been “shot at twice.”

There has, however, been no independent confirmation that Kafwaya was struck by gunfire or injured. The distinction is important because some social media accounts have presented the allegation as confirmation that he was shot.

Questions have also been raised about Patrick Mwansa, husband of former Chawama Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu, who was reportedly among people associated with Mundubile during the incident. Opposition-aligned accounts have described Mwansa and several others as unaccounted for, but the newsroom has not independently established that he was arrested, injured or remains missing.

Other people mentioned in the circulating accounts include lawyer and presidential spokesperson George Chisanga, Mundubile’s driver, a Mr Banda and members of his security detail. Their circumstances immediately following the reported incident have also not been independently established.

Earlier social media claims that Tasila Lungu’s husband had been killed were among reports identified as unverified during a wider wave of election-related misinformation. Similar claims about Mundubile changed repeatedly, ranging from reports that he had died to assertions that he had been shot, hospitalised or detained at Ibex Hill Police Station.

What has been confirmed by Mundubile himself is that Zambia Army officers interrogated him. This is separate from the Zambia Police statement, which specifically denied that he had been arrested and detained in police custody.

The circumstances surrounding the Army’s involvement have consequently raised questions that remain unanswered, including the basis of the interrogation, whether anyone else was taken away and whether firearms were discharged during the reported incident.

Mundubile has characterised what happened at his residence in serious terms, but those allegations have not been independently verified. There has also been no independently established evidence that President Hakainde Hichilema personally ordered the reported operation.

The Zambia Police Service has meanwhile warned that anyone deliberately creating or circulating false information intended to mislead the public may face legal action.

With vote counting and verification continuing following Thursday’s general election, authoritative clarification from the relevant security authorities could help establish precisely what happened, the condition and whereabouts of those reportedly involved, and separate verified events from the numerous conflicting claims circulating online.