MUNDUBILE’S BODYGUARD VERY ALIVE, IN POLICE CUSTODY SAYS CHISHALA KATEKA

The political landscape in Lusaka has experienced a wave of tension following conflicting accounts regarding the fate of individuals detained during a high-profile security operation at the Kabulonga residence of opposition leader Brian Mundubile. New Heritage Party president Chishala Kateka stepped forward to quell growing panic, confirming after a visit to Chelstone Police Station that Richard Banda, a bodyguard attached to the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) leader, is alive and in lawful custody. Kateka's intervention comes in the wake of chaotic social media speculation and unverified claims from various political commentators suggesting that Banda and several others had lost their lives during the security raid. The controversy stems from an armed operation executed at Mundubile’s Kudu Road residence, which subsequently triggered a flurry of competing narratives between opposition figures and state authorities. Earlier, speculations had swirled across digital platforms alleging fatalities among Mundubile’s security detail and close associates during the tactical intervention. However, law enforcement authorities and opposition figures conducting independent checks at holding facilities have since clarified the status of several detainees, noting that multiple individuals rounded up during the raid—including prominent legal and political figures—have been formally booked across various police installations in the capital. Legal representatives and concerned stakeholders have intensified calls for absolute transparency regarding the welfare, health status, and due process afforded to all detainees. The Zambia Police Service has maintained that those in custody face serious allegations, leading to formal charges being instituted against a group of individuals picked up from the scene. Yet, civil society organizations and opposition networks continue to voice deep concern over the opaque nature of the initial hours following the ra