AN OPEN LETTER
TO THE SECRETARY TO THE CABINET
Mr. Patrick Kangwa
Secretary to the Cabinet
Republic of Zambia
Lusaka
Dear Mr Kangwa
Subject: Demand for Full Transparency, Accountability, and Independent Inquiry into the Death of Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya
The confirmation that former Cabinet Minister and Lunte Member of Parliament, Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya lost his life during the security operation in Kabulonga on August 14, 2026, has sent a profound shockwave through the nation.
As the administrative head of the public service and principal advisor to the government, your recent statement acknowledging the tragedy while noting that no further official comments will be made pending law enforcement investigations, leaving critical gaps unanswered.
A nation is built on trust between the citizenry and the government. When a prominent political figure and former legislator dies in a security raid, silence or restricted communication from the highest offices breeds deep anxiety, skepticism, and social polarisation.
We write to urge you and the government to consider imperatives of unfiltered transparency.
The initial days of confusion, conflicting reports, and delayed identification severely strained public trust. Families and the public deserve a comprehensive, unvarnished account of the sequence of events that led to the fatal shooting.
Calls from civil society for an independent and impartial inquiry must not be sidelined. To remove any perception of bias or state shielding, the investigation into the use of lethal force during the operation must be transparently verified by independent bodies.
While the government rightly warns against inflammatory online vitriol and threats of violence, accountability must cut both ways. Security agencies must exercise maximum restraint, adhering strictly to constitutionalism, human rights, and the rule of law, ensuring that political dissent is never met with lethal outcomes.
The post election environment requires statesmanship, sobriety, and a genuine commitment to national unity. Healing will not be achieved by cutting off public discourse but by demonstrating that the life of every Zambian, regardless of political affiliation, is fiercely protected and valued by the state.
We call upon your office to ensure that the ongoing investigations are thorough, credible, and fully responsive to the grieving family’s right to the absolute truth.
Yours faithfully,
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party
Demanding things which are already being done to be done, what a waste of time.