15/08/2026
LUSAKA — NRP-UP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile says he survived what he describes as an assassination attempt after more than 30 soldiers allegedly raided his residence in Kabulonga, Lusaka, in a dramatic incident he says left his family traumatised, his property damaged and several people around him unaccounted for.
Speaking by telephone during a live broadcast on EMV this evening, Mundubile gave a detailed account of what he said happened after returning home from a meeting with an international observer mission.
Mundubile said the soldiers arrived at his residence heavily armed and broke into the property, smashing windows and firing shots before forcing their way into the house.
He said he feared for his life and hid inside a wardrobe in the master bedroom as the soldiers searched the residence.
According to Mundubile, the soldiers eventually entered the bedroom, found him and pulled him from his hiding place.
He said he was subsequently beaten, kicked and dragged to waiting vehicles before being taken away.
Mundubile said Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot twice during the operation and that, at the time of the interview, he did not know whether Kafwaya and others who were present had survived.
Family allegedly caught up in raid
Mundubile said his wife and other members of his family were also subjected to violence during the incident.
He described the events as a terrifying experience and said he never imagined that Zambia could reach a point where political differences would result in such violence.
“I never ever thought Zambia would sink to such levels,” Mundubile said during the telephone interview.
He appealed against the use of violence, saying there was no need to spill blood over an election.
Taken to security facilities
Mundubile said he was taken to the Force Headquarters after being removed from his residence.
He said the group was unable to gain access to the offices and was later taken to what he described as a command centre.
He said he and members of his family were subsequently driven away and left at an undisclosed location.
Mundubile said he was still uncertain about the whereabouts and safety of several people close to him, including members of his security detail and campaign team.
He specifically mentioned his bodyguards, security personnel and spokesperson George Chisanga, as well as Mwansa, the husband of Tasila Lungu, saying he did not know where they were or whether they were safe.
Property and valuables
Mundubile said the raid also resulted in significant damage to his residence.
He said property was destroyed, while money and mobile phones were taken.
He described the incident as a serious escalation in Zambia’s political environment and reiterated that elections should not result in the loss of life.
Denies Facebook statement
Mundubile also denied responsibility for an earlier statement posted on his page which said that he was being interrogated by officers from the Zambia Army over videos he had released earlier in the day.
According to Mundubile, he did not issue that statement.
The issue adds another layer to the rapidly developing situation surrounding the NRP-UP presidential candidate on the eve of the country’s general election.
Serious allegations yet to be independently verified
Mundubile’s account contains serious allegations involving the use of fi****ms, violence against his family, damage to property, the alleged shooting of people at the residence and the detention or disappearance of members of his security and campaign team.
The Zambian Eye has not independently verified all the details of Mundubile’s account.
The circumstances surrounding the reported operation, including the number and identity of security personnel involved, the alleged shootings and the whereabouts of the people named by Mundubile, remain unclear.
The Zambian Eye is seeking responses from the relevant security authorities and will update this story as official information becomes available.
The allegations come amid an increasingly tense political environment ahead of Zambia’s election, with the NRP-UP accusing state authorities of targeting its officials and supporters, while authorities have previously raised concerns about activities they say could threaten electoral stability.
For now, Mundubile’s account provides the most detailed description of the reported incident, delivered during a live telephone interview as the country enters a critical period in the electoral process.
