“WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER ABEL?” THE CASE OF MUTOTWE KAFWAYA

“WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER ABEL?” THE CASE OF MUTOTWE KAFWAYA Genesis 4 vs 9 records God asking Cain the whereabouts of his brother. “I don’t know. Am I the brother’s keeper?” Arrogantly, this is how Cain responded. This story teaches principles of responsibility and accountability. We have a responsibility towards one another and we are […]

“WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER ABEL?” THE CASE OF MUTOTWE KAFWAYA

Genesis 4 vs 9 records God asking Cain the whereabouts of his brother.

“I don’t know. Am I the brother’s keeper?” Arrogantly, this is how Cain responded.

This story teaches principles of responsibility and accountability. We have a responsibility towards one another and we are accountable to one another.

This principle is indispensable to the survival of humanity throughout the ages. It provides the framework through which we look out for one another’s welfare.

In modern societies, the principle has been institutionalized. Weaved and entrenched in the policies, laws and institutions of modern nations, governments are obligated to ensure the wellbeing of its citizens.

Of all the countries in the world, the Zambian government must understand this principle far much better because it is by declaration a Christian nation.

It is this principle that came into focus when Secretary to Cabinet addressed the nation and informed it of the operation it had carried out and the whereabouts of some of our fellow citizens.

But there’s one missing – Mutotwe Kafwaya. This one is of particular interest because Brian Mundubile said in no uncertain terms that he and his wife saw him shot twice

In all fairness, this is the one government should have immediately accounted for. Naturally, when you hear your beloved one has been shot at, you become anxious.

Only two things can happen under these circumstances – seriously wounded or dead. Mundubile said the shooting took place in the walking-in wardrobe. This means Kafwaya was shot at at close range execution style.

Secondly, Mr. Kangwa said the operation was based on information that the premises the state was raiding had suspects planning to destabilize the peace and stability of the country.

This meant that the officers dispatched had to bear arms with the highest possible calibre of weapons, possibly the military-type. Shot at using this kind of weaponry, and at close range, chances of survival are extremely narrow.

I think it was with this scenario in mind that Mrs. Kafwaya asked the state to come clean – is he dead or not? This way, the family may proceed with either a funeral or nurse him hopefully to recovery.

But the question worth of meditation is why the Secretary to Cabinet didn’t mention Mutotwe Kafwaya and yet Mundubile not only did he mention him but categorically stated that he had been shot – not once but twice?

Mostly likely, it was to use the principle in communication called plausible deniability – distance the state from the shooting. The state can claim it didn’t see Kafwaya so, it wouldn’t account for his whereabouts. It would say, “Ask Mundubile who mentioned him. None of the officers who went there saw him”.

Remember also that the Secretary to Cabinet said the officers were shot at first and an exchange of fire ensued. In the process, some people fled. This narrative contradicts that of Mundubile but it was carefully designed to lead to another statement from the state at a later stage, namely, Kafwaya died during the exchange of fire in the event that he ‘turns up’ dead.

I reckon this development is very inconveniencing for the ruling party leadership who would rather be celebrating their victory. They may even become clumsy and desperate to silence the narrative, in the process committing more heinous acts.