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Emotions ran high in the Lusaka High Court when a police reserve officer broke down in tears while testifying against two fellow officers accused of abducting and murdering Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General, Guntila Muleya.
With visible distress, 33-year-old William Shawa identified officers Alex Caleb Zulu and M’thusani Dokowe Basa as the men who apprehended Muleya from Mika Convention Centre on July 23, 2024.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Shawa, his voice trembling as he placed a hand on Zulu’s shoulder.
His testimony revealed a troubling account of the events surrounding Muleya’s disappearance.
Shawa told the court that the officers misled him, claiming they were escorting Muleya to Lusaka Central Police Station over alleged financial misconduct.
“I was told the person was Muleya. Officer Zulu said he had stolen a lot of money from people and that the instruction came from the Anti-Fraud Unit,” Shawa said.
He later learned that Muleya never made it to the police station.
Shawa was testifying in a case where Constable Zulu (a police intelligence officer), Constable Dokowe, system engineer Samuel Dokowe Basa, and IBA accountant Francis Chipyoka are jointly charged with murder.
Appearing before Judge Vincent Siloka, Shawa—who serves as a police reserve under the Emmasdale Division and operates a business in Garden Compound—recounted how on July 18, 2024, he was summoned to assist in an arrest. He was issued an AK-47 rifle with four rounds, which he logged in the Occurrence Book before heading out with Zulu and Dokowe.
An initial attempt to arrest Muleya at Longacres Mall failed. Concerned about insufficient ammunition, Zulu handed Shawa two more bullets, which were later passed to Dokowe. The operation resumed on July 23.
Shawa detailed how they tracked Muleya’s vehicle through Lusaka before intercepting him at Mika Convention Centre in Chongwe. He said Zulu was in contact with someone who was trailing Muleya.
When confronted, Muleya questioned their authority. Although the officers presented identification, he refused to comply.
“But Mr. Muleya refused to go with us. Zulu then said we would take him by force. Mr. Muleya started shouting, ‘Security! Security!’ That’s when Mika security personnel arrived,” he testified.
Zulu eventually handcuffed Muleya and placed him in their red Toyota RAV4 in the presence of Mika staff.
They briefly stopped near Chelstone Tank, allegedly to arrange retrieval of Muleya’s vehicle. During this time, Muleya was asked to surrender his phone and keys. He requested to call his brother but was denied.
“Muleya asked me, ‘Boss, do you have any idea what crime I’ve committed?’ I told him I didn’t know and that my bosses would explain at the station,” Shawa said.
He told the court that he later separated from the group at Northmead and was instructed to return the firearm to the station before joining them at Lusaka Central Police Station.
However, upon returning, he could not locate the officers at the police station. That night, Zulu called and told him to retrieve and reload the rifle.
“He told me to meet him at the Garden–Chilulu junction. When we met, Zulu asked about the bullets. I said they were at the office. He instructed me to get them and load the gun. I returned to the station and recorded in the Occurrence Book that the firearm had been deposited.”
Shawa also revealed that two days later, Zulu, using a different number, sent him K1,000 via Airtel Money.
On the night of July 27, Shawa said police officers visited his home and interrogated him about Muleya’s money.
“They asked me where the money we got from Muleya was. I told them he didn’t give me any money and offered to go to Lusaka Central to confirm with Muleya. They then beat me, tied me up, and searched my house.”
He added that he was taken to a command center, where he found Zulu, Dokowe, and another man.
“I asked Zulu what had happened. He told me to relax and said he had already informed the officers that I wasn’t involved. When I told the officers that Muleya had been taken to Lusaka Central, they told me Zulu had lied—Muleya had not been taken there. He had been killed.”
Shawa identified the AK-47 rifle and related entries in the Occurrence Book as part of the court’s evidence.
Judge Siloka granted a prosecution request to conduct a scene visit at Mika Convention Centre.
The trial continues today.
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