SECRETARY TO CABINET PATRICK KANGWA HAS JUST OPENED THE PANDORA’S BOX- Macpherson Mutale

Macpherson Mutale writes: SECRETARY TO CABINET PATRICK KANGWA HAS JUST OPENED THE PANDORA’S BOX When Brian Mundubile and his colleagues claimed they had been abducted by state operatives, the government initially denied the operation and some officials dismissed it as a propaganda stunt. Two Permanent Secretaries even went to Maina Soko Military Hospital in an […]

Macpherson Mutale writes:

SECRETARY TO CABINET PATRICK KANGWA HAS JUST OPENED THE PANDORA’S BOX

When Brian Mundubile and his colleagues claimed they had been abducted by state operatives, the government initially denied the operation and some officials dismissed it as a propaganda stunt. Two Permanent Secretaries even went to Maina Soko Military Hospital in an apparent effort to establish that nothing had happened. Many Zambians therefore began doubting the opposition’s account.

But Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa has now effectively acknowledged that the state conducted the operation, claiming it followed years of surveillance and investigations into alleged links between opposition figures and military-style militias and alleged militia training.

This revelation raises more questions than answers.

1. SURVEILLANCE OF OPPOSITION LEADERS

If the state has been monitoring opposition leaders for years, Zambians deserve to know under what legal authority, who authorised the surveillance, what safeguards existed and what oversight was provided.

Intelligence gathering can be legitimate in matters of national security, but in a democracy it cannot become a licence for the state to intrude into citizens’ private lives without accountability.

2. THE ALLEGED MILITARY-GRADE WEAPONS

The government claims that military-grade weapons were recovered during the operation. If true, this is extremely serious.

But authorities must clearly establish where the weapons were found, who possessed them, how they were connected to Mundubile and his colleagues, and whether forensic and ballistic evidence supports the allegations.

It is difficult to understand why anyone would allegedly keep military-grade weapons in a family residence, particularly where women and children were present. If the weapons were recovered elsewhere, government should say so clearly.

3. WHY WAS MUNDUBILE NOT ARRESTED?

If the operation uncovered an armed militia and involved weapons and an alleged exchange of gunfire, why was Mundubile not arrested and charged?

Why were some of his colleagues detained while he was released?

If the state has evidence of an insurrectionary conspiracy, the proper place to present that evidence is a court of law—not a government statement.

4. THE TIMING RAISES QUESTIONS

If the state had been monitoring these individuals for years, why did the decisive intervention happen during an election period?

This does not prove political interference, but the timing inevitably raises legitimate questions.

My theory—and it remains only a theory—is that the operation may have been politically driven, possibly intended to prevent the opposition from mobilising or demanding accountability over an election they believed was fraudulent.

That theory could be completely wrong. The only way to settle it is through an independent investigation.

5. THE ALLEGED EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE

The Secretary to the Cabinet says there was an exchange of gunfire. If that is true, why did government initially deny that the operation had happened?

Why was the public not immediately informed that armed state operatives had engaged people in a firefight at an opposition politician’s residence?

And most importantly: were there casualties?

6. THE KAFWAYA SHOOTING ALLEGATION

Mundubile has alleged that Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot twice in his presence.

That allegation must be independently established.

Was Kafwaya shot? By whom? Under what circumstances? Where was he treated? What injuries did he sustain? Were there other casualties?

If the allegation is false, government should clearly say so. If it is true, the public deserves the full circumstances.

7. EXCESSIVE FORCE

Even if the state genuinely believed that armed militia members were occupying the residence, national security does not provide an unlimited licence to use force.

Where women, children and other civilians are present, authorities have a heightened responsibility to minimise casualties.

If excessive force was used, those responsible must be held accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.

8. THIS IS BIGGER THAN MUNDUBILE

This matter is no longer simply about one opposition politician. It is about the kind of democratic state Zambia wants to become.

The government has legitimate powers to investigate threats to national security, but those powers must operate within the Constitution and the law.

Surveillance, armed operations, detention and the use of force require transparency, accountability and independent oversight.

We should neither automatically believe everything the opposition says nor blindly accept everything government tells us.

Both sides must be subjected to the same standard: evidence.

If there was a militia network, show us the evidence.

If military-grade weapons were recovered, explain where they came from.

If there was gunfire, establish who fired and why.

If anyone was injured or killed, tell the nation.

If surveillance was conducted for years, explain its legal basis.

If an insurrection was being planned, take the evidence before the courts.

And if excessive force was used, hold those responsible accountable.

Secretary to the Cabinet has opened Pandora’s box. The answer is not to close it. The answer is to open it completely and allow the truth to come out.

Human life is sacred. National security is important. But neither should ever become an excuse for sacrificing constitutional rights or political accountability.