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The Lusaka High Court on Monday heard harrowing testimony in the ongoing murder trial of Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General Guntila Muleya, with his brother revealing that Muleya feared for his life shortly before his death.
Testifying before Judge Vincent Siloka, 46-year-old banker Muntanga Muleya said his late brother had expressed concern for his safety during a lunch meeting in Lusaka’s Longacres area on July 23, 2024.
“He said he wished he had protection,” Muntanga recounted emotionally, adding that Guntila appeared stressed and troubled by events at work, including a dispute involving an IBA accountant and concerns over a suspicious vehicle procurement deal.
“He said someone was pressuring him to approve the purchase of overpriced vehicles, and he had discovered the supplier was linked to the same person pushing the deal,” he told the court.
Muleya also mentioned a tense meeting with the owner of a local television station over media ethics, describing the situation as “stressful,” and telling his brother, “I want to be remembered for doing the right thing.”
That would be the last time the two saw each other.
Muntanga said he was alerted at around 02:00 hours the following Wednesday by Guntila’s wife, Ngosa, who reported that her husband had not returned home and was unreachable by phone.
After unsuccessful attempts to contact friends, Muntanga filed a missing persons report at police headquarters. Later that day, he received a call from the Minister of Information informing him that Guntila’s body had been found in the Njolwe area.
He was asked to identify the body at Maina Soko Military Hospital.
“I found him lying face up, handcuffed, with a towel over his face,” he said. “When they removed it, I saw he had wounds on his face. He was disfigured.”
Four men are facing murder charges in the high-profile case: 29-year-old police officer M’Thusani Dokowe; his elder brother, systems engineer Samuel Dokowe; IBA accountant Francis Chipyoka, 42; and 30-year-old police officer Caleb Zulu.
During cross-examination, defense lawyers Friday Mulenga and Chawezi Ngoma challenged Muntanga’s testimony, questioning the admissibility of statements based on conversations rather than direct knowledge.
“You’re only telling the court what your brother told you, not what you personally witnessed,” one defense lawyer said.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Muntanga responded.
The defense also argued that Muleya had not formally reported the procurement irregularities to law enforcement or the Anti-Corruption Commission, nor lodged a complaint with the IBA board—though the witness maintained that his brother had said he informed the board.
One lawyer also questioned Muleya’s understanding of procurement processes, suggesting that such matters typically fall outside the purview of accountants.
The trial continues before Judge Siloka.
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