The Hypocrisy of the Zambia Police: A Tale of Two Abductions

The Hypocrisy of the Zambia Police: A Tale of Two Abductions

By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma

I usually avoid commenting on matters involving social media influencers in Zambia because, frankly, there are far more pressing issues affecting our nation. However, today, I must break that silence—not because I am particularly invested in the affairs of socialites, but because this case lays bare the deep-seated hypocrisy of the Zambia Police.

Two abduction cases have made headlines in recent days, yet the stark difference in how they have been handled exposes a justice system that operates on double standards—swift and brutal against ordinary citizens, but hesitant and complicit when powerful figures are involved.

Case 1: The Rapid Arrest of a Social Media Influencer

In one corner, we have Wendy Natasha Mutale, popularly known as Mrs. Kennedy. She, along with two friends, has been arrested for allegedly abducting her husband’s mistress, Lucy Mushabati, and another individual, Nchimunya Malambo. The allegations? The trio reportedly beat up the two women, locked them in a house, and confiscated their phones—acts that, while serious, stem from a personal dispute.

The police wasted no time. Within days, they had arrested Mrs. Kennedy and her accomplices, paraded them before the media, and assured the public that justice would be served. Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga made it clear: the Zambia Police Service was committed to upholding the law and protecting the rights of all individuals.

Swift justice, right? But compare this with another case—one that involves a sitting Member of Parliament and potential political foul play. The difference is staggering.

Case 2: The Abduction (and Persecution) of Hon. Emmanuel JJ Banda

While the police rushed to apprehend Mrs. Kennedy, they have been suspiciously slow and evasive in handling the case of Hon. Emmanuel JJ Banda, an independent Member of Parliament for Petauke.

Hon. Banda went missing under bizarre circumstances. The police initially tried to pass it off as a suicide attempt, claiming that his car had been found abandoned near a police station with a “suspected” suicide note inside. But the Zambian people were not fooled. The circumstances were far too suspicious.

Two days later, Hon. Banda was found in Kafue in a horrifying state—traumatized, physically weak, and unable to recount what had happened to him. If this were any ordinary citizen, the police would have immediately launched an investigation, sought out his abductors, and reassured the public.

Instead, what did the Zambia Police do? They forcibly removed Hon. Banda from a private medical facility where he was receiving treatment and transferred him—against his family’s wishes—to Maina Soko Military Hospital. This was no ordinary police intervention. This was a military-level operation, as if Hon. Banda were a dangerous criminal rather than a victim of abduction.

And yet, it gets worse.

The Real Abductors Walk Free

When Hon. Banda was asked about his abduction ordeal in the pressence of his lawyers and the police , he  made a shocking revelation—he identified three UPND officials, Levy Ngoma, Trevor Mwiinde, and Clayson Hamasaka, as his alleged abductors. This should have been a turning point in the case. Any competent law enforcement agency would have immediately launched an investigation into these individuals. But instead?

Nothing.

No arrests. No interrogations. No statements.

Instead of treating Hon. Banda as a victim, the system turned against him. President Hakainde Hichilema ordered the reopening of an eight-year-old case against him—a case that had already been settled in court, fines paid, and victims compensated. Why now? Why suddenly dig up an old case? The answer is clear: to silence him. To paint him as a criminal and distract the public from the real issue—his abduction.

Leaked Audio: A Damning Revelation

As if this political persecution wasn’t enough, leaked audio recordings later emerged, implicating senior government officials in a coercion attempt. In these recordings, Permanent Secretaries Thabo Kawana and Matembo, along with Minister Sylvia Masebo, can be heard pressuring Hon. Banda to exonerate his abductors. Their message was clear: withdraw your accusations so you can exonerate the “boss”

This should have been a national scandal of epic proportions. But what did the Zambia Police do? Again, nothing. No investigations, no arrests, no action against the officials caught red-handed in an attempt to manipulate justice.

Trumped-Up Charges and the Disappearance of a Political Prisoner

The final act of this dark political drama came when Hon. Banda was transferred to Chipata, where he was slapped with trumped-up, non-bailable charges of aggravated robbery and attempted murder. In reality, these charges were nothing more than a political weapon—an attempt to permanently silence him and make sure the public forgets about his allegations.

While in prison, Hon. Banda fell seriously ill. He was taken to a hospital, and from there, he mysteriously disappeared. The government now claims that he “escaped from lawful custody” and is a fugitive. But Zambians are not fools. This is not the story of a criminal on the run—it is the story of a political prisoner fleeing persecution.

The Questions the Zambia Police Must Answer

This entire ordeal has left the public with more questions than answers.

1. Why did the police act so swiftly in the case of Mrs. Kennedy, yet fail to even launch an investigation into the alleged abduction of Hon. Banda?

2. Why did President Hichilema suddenly order the reopening of an old case against Banda at this exact moment?

3. Why have the police ignored Banda’s allegations against senior UPND officials?

4. Why were Permanent Secretaries Thabo Kawana and Matembo, along with Minister Sylvia Masebo, involved in coercing Banda at Maina Soko Military Hospital?

5. Why did the police prioritize branding Banda as a fugitive instead of investigating the circumstances of his alleged abduction?

A Rotten System, Exposed

The contrast between these two cases is not just about different individuals—it is about a justice system that operates on political influence rather than fairness. The Zambia Police have proven that they are willing to act decisively when it comes to social media influencers and everyday citizens, but when powerful political figures are involved, they conveniently turn a blind eye.

If the police were truly impartial, the abductors of Hon. Banda would be in custody, just like Mrs. Kennedy and her friends. If justice in Zambia were truly blind, Hon. Banda would be receiving protection, not persecution. But we do not have an impartial system. We have a police force that is selectively efficient, conveniently blind, and dangerously complicit in political oppression.

Until these questions are answered and until the Zambia Police prove that they serve the people, not the ruling elite, Zambians have every reason to be outraged. This is not just about Hon. Banda. This is about every Zambian who believes in justice, fairness, and the rule of law.