Tears, silence as court visits home where former ZAF chief, Shikapwasha, was killed

A heavy silence hung over Plot 477 in Ibex Hill as Jane Lusengo, widow of the late Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, returned to what was once her family home—this time under the shadow of a murder accusation, over a year later.

Stepping out of the prison vehicle, the 72-year-old trembled, tears streaking down her face as she was assisted by a police officer.

Her sobs filled the air as she looked around the familiar yard, now transformed into a crime scene marked by grief and loss.

The house that once echoed with family laughter and warmth has become the setting of a tragedy that continues to haunt the nation.

For Lusengo, each step across the threshold was a confrontation with memories of love once shared—and the night that ended it all.

The Lusaka High Court, led by Judge Conceptor Chinyawa Zulu, conducted a scene visit to the residence where Lusengo stands accused of fatally shooting her husband on January 15, 2024.

The court was accompanied by the prosecution, defence lawyers, and forensic experts as they entered the couple’s matrimonial bedroom, where investigators believe the fatal shot was fired.

Inspector Isaac Kalimanshila, a forensic ballistic expert with the Zambia Police Service, guided the court through his findings.

He explained that the deceased’s body had been found lying with the head pointing southwest and the legs northeast, with suspected blood stains close by.

His analysis indicated that the gunshot came from east to west and was fired at close range.

“The shot was direct. There was no evidence of pellet spread or stippling on the walls, meaning the muzzle was near the target,” Inspector Kalimanshila told the court, adding that the ammunition used was birdshot, which caused an entry wound but no exit wound due to the dense tissue resistance.

The forensic officer presented several exhibits, including a white T-shirt belonging to the deceased, torn in two and bearing a gunshot hole on the abdomen. Other clothing items—a chitenge jacket, white blouse, dark blue skirt, and shoes—were also sent for forensic chemistry analysis.

Photographs and sketches of the scene showed the furniture and the position of the body as found on that fateful day.

Coffee chairs, a bedside table, and a carpet remained in place, preserving the chilling normalcy of a room where a violent end unfolded.

Relatives of the late commander who accompanied the court broke down during the inspection, overwhelmed by emotion.

The matter was adjourned to a date after Independence Day.

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