Reactions pour in after Mutotwe Kafwaya’s death

Tonse Pamodzi Alliance running mate Makebi Zulu described Kafwaya’s death as something that “didn’t have to end like this”, questioning why his life was taken after years of public service.

“Your life was never theirs to take. NO THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE.”

The comments reflect a broader mood among some members of the public, with several questioning the circumstances surrounding Kafwaya’s death and calling for an independent investigation.

Some commenters expressed concern over what they described as the growing politicisation of violence.

One citizen, Wise Mweene Mainza, wrote: “Politics is a dirt game, never you be misled especially when political acts are involved.”

Another, Bradford ZM, said political differences should never justify the loss of life, while condemning people who appeared to mock Kafwaya’s death.

“We can disagree politically, we can debate, we can support different parties and candidates but at the end of the day, we are all human beings.”

Others focused on the allegations surrounding the shooting. Ai Zm called for the claims made by opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile to be properly investigated, arguing that allegations should not be dismissed simply because they come from the opposition.

“Supporting one side doesn’t mean we should ignore injustice.”

Several comments also expressed regret over earlier reactions to Mundubile’s account of events.

Nick Daniels apologised to Mundubile, saying:

“Thanks to Thabo Kawana for misleading us. Some of us ended up saying things we should never have said. Sorry Brian Mundubile for doubting you and making fun of your narration.”

Questions were also raised about the fate of Kafwaya’s security detail, with some commenters asking whether his bodyguard survived.

There was widespread criticism of what some citizens perceived as the mocking of Mundubile’s earlier account of the incident. Olipa Namukoko Mulenga wrote that people had laughed and mocked Mundubile while he was describing what had happened.

Others expressed concern about the broader implications for Zambia’s democracy and political culture.

Chanda Kaemba wrote that political differences should not divide Zambians to the point of violence, saying:

“We may differ in politics but at the end of the day we are one.”

Nsomfi Nsomfi linked Kafwaya’s death to previous political violence in Zambia, arguing that leadership and elections should never come at the cost of human life.

The reactions also included expressions of personal grief and remembrance. Some citizens recalled Kafwaya’s parliamentary debates, while others invoked former President Kenneth Kaunda’s concerns about the direction of the country.

The comments, however, were not uniformly political. A significant number focused on the human dimension of the death, urging Zambians to put political differences aside and preserve their sense of humanity.

For many of those commenting, the central message was that political disagreement should never become a justification for violence or the loss of life, while others are demanding answers over what happened and who should be held accountable.

The circumstances surrounding Kafwaya’s death remain a major subject of public debate, with calls growing for the events leading to his death to be fully established and independently investigated.