11 face treason as police recover AK-47s, Uzi weapons at Kabulonga house
11 face treason as police recover AK-47s, Uzi weapons at Kabulonga house
Police have disclosed that lawyer George Kangwa Chisanga, Bishop Trevor Mwamba, Patrick Mwansa, the husband of former President Edgar Lungu’s daughter Tasila, and eight other people arrested during a joint security operation in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area are being investigated for alleged treason and other offences.
Lusaka, 20 August – Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba said the 11 suspects were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation conducted on August 14, 2026, at a named residence in Kabulonga by a joint task force involving members of the Central Joint Operations Committee (CJOC) and the Drug Enforcement Commission.
According to Mr Musamba, the operation followed intelligence concerning activities by individuals considered to be of national interest and suspected of posing a threat to national security.
He said the defence and security wings had been monitoring the activities of the individuals since November 2023.
Mr Musamba said the operation turned violent when the security team arrived at the residence and was met with gunfire from unknown individuals.
The task force returned fire, resulting in one unidentified man being fatally wounded.
The deceased was later identified by family members as former Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya.
Police said a firearm was recovered from the deceased.
Mr Musamba said 11 people were apprehended at the premises, including three former army commandos with specialised military training and two retired police officers.
He said the three former commandos had received special forces training in areas including sniping, marksmanship, intelligence gathering, commando tactics, hijacking and assassination techniques, as well as survival, escape, resistance and evasion.
According to the Inspector General, the former commandos had accumulated extensive military experience during approximately two decades of service in army special forces.
He added that the two retired police officers had been trained in weapons handling and fieldcraft, with one having previously served in the Flying Squad, commonly known as C5.
The suspects are being investigated for alleged offences relating to treason, among other offences that may emerge during the investigations, Mr Musamba said.
He stressed that those found not to be connected to the alleged offences would be released.
A search of the premises also resulted in the recovery of a substantial quantity of firearms, ammunition and tactical equipment.
Police said the recovered items included military-version automatic Uzi weapons, five AK-47 rifles with 60 rounds of ammunition and a Zastava pistol.
Other items included four Beretta magazines, a bulletproof vest, a commando dagger and firearm-maintenance equipment such as gun-cleaning rods, gun oil and cleaning kits.
The security team also recovered military-grade binoculars with night-vision capability, four pairs of tactical gloves, two Taser-type devices, three Baofeng walkie-talkies and a walkie-talkie charger.
A digital video recorder and video splitter were also seized.
Police said several electronic and information and communications technology devices were recovered and would undergo forensic examination.
Mr Musamba said investigators would examine documents, communications and other digital material found on the devices as part of efforts to establish their ownership, source, intended use and possible links to the alleged offences.
The Inspector General named the 11 people in custody as Brazil Soko, 56; Jackson Mutyoka, 41; Bernard Chewe, 41; Simon Phiri, 43; Richard Banda, 49; George Kangwa Chisanga, 59; Trevor Mwamba, 68; Francis Mulenga, 26; Emmanuel Mulenga, 56; Patrick Mwansa, 39; and Darius Mwila, 57.
Mr Musamba said the suspects would be dealt with in accordance with the law and that anyone else found to have been involved in the alleged offences would also face legal action.
He further assured the public that the operation was not intended to target people because of their political affiliation, occupation or social status.
“All persons apprehended will be accorded their constitutional and legal rights,” Mr Musamba said, adding that the investigations would be conducted professionally, impartially and in accordance with the law.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid speculation or circulating unverified information about the operation and the ongoing investigations.
Further updates, he said, would be provided as the investigations progress.