Kafwaya needed to live – Nyasulu

…says Zambia needed the late politician alive to explain what happened at Mundubile’s residence and tell his side of story

By NATION REPORTER

FORMER Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya needed to be alive so that he could tell his own story about what happened during the security operation at opposition leader Brian Mundubile’s residence, Victor Nyasulu has said.

Mr Nyasulu, who was speaking after attending the home-going service of Mr Kafwaya who was a Church elder at the Tabernacle of David Church, said the late politician did not have the character or demeanour of a militia member or gangster.

“Elder Mutotwe Kafwaya did not, in my experience, have the record, character or demeanour of a militia member or gangster. Whatever happened at the Mundubile residence, we needed Mutotwe alive—not dead—so that he could tell his own story and help us understand what actually happened,” Mr Nyasulu said.

Mr Kafwaya was fatally shot during a joint security operation at Mr Mundubile’s residence in Kabulonga, Lusaka, on August 14, 2026.

Police later confirmed his death, saying officers had encountered resistance during the operation.

But Mr Nyasulu said Kafwaya’s death had now denied the country an opportunity to hear directly from him about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Death has now denied us that opportunity to hear the side of Mr Kafwaya,” he said.

Mr Nyasulu described Kafwaya as a humble public servant, professional colleague and political ally whom he came to respect.

He said he first met Kafwaya professionally between 2013 and 2015 when they were both Chartered Accountants.

Their paths later crossed again in politics.

“What struck me most about him was his humility,” Mr Nyasulu said.

He said despite being politically senior to him, Mr Kafwaya never conducted himself with an attitude of superiority.

“Although I was his junior politically, he never carried himself with an attitude of superiority,” the former ZAMMSA boss said.

Mr Nyasulu recalled that only a few months ago, he had summoned Mr Kafwaya to his office at very short notice and the former lawmaker responded positively.

“Indeed, only a few months ago, I was able to summon him to my office at very short notice—and he came. From that encounter onward, he would affectionately address me as ‘Bakalamba’ (loosely translated my older brother),” he said.

“That, to me, said much about the man.”

Mr Nyasulu said Mr Kafwaya’s death had also reminded him that a person’s legacy was not determined merely by the positions they held, but by the lives they touched and the manner in which they conducted themselves.

“For me, Elder Mutotwe Kafwaya was a humble man, a professional colleague and, in the latter days, a political colleague whom I came to respect,” he said.