LUNTE – The Bemba Royal Establishment has raised alarm over reports that heavily armed individuals travelling in six vehicles are allegedly using threats and coercion to force villagers in Lisunga, Lunte District, to reveal the burial place of the late former Cabinet Minister and Lunte MP Mutotwe Kafwaya.
In a statement issued on October 17, 2026, Secretary to the Chitimukulu Richard Mukuka said the matter had been reported to Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Kanyanta-manga II by Senior Chief ShiBwalya-Kapila of the Lisunga Bemba Kingdom.
The establishment described the reported conduct as “highly provocative”, warning that the alleged attempt to compel villagers to identify the grave raises concerns about respect for traditional authority, community rights and the sanctity of burial places.
The statement does not identify the people allegedly involved, explain why they are seeking the grave or indicate whether they have presented any official documentation authorising their actions.
Why the Chitimukulu Palace has intervened
The Bemba Royal Establishment says the matter reached the paramount chief through the customary governance structures of the Bemba Kingdom.
According to the statement, issues affecting UbuBemba at village level are expected to be reported to the territorial chief, who then reports to the Chitimukulu or the Chitimukulu-in-Council.
The palace said Senior Chief ShiBwalya-Kapila had informed Chitimukulu Kanyanta-manga II that armed individuals were allegedly moving through the area in six vehicles and pressuring villagers to show them Kafwaya’s grave.
The intervention places the matter within the framework of traditional authority and the relationship between the royal establishment and communities in its territory.
Why Kafwaya’s grave has become a sensitive issue
The Royal Establishment said Kafwaya was UmuBemba from the Lisunga territory of UluBemba and that his remains were buried there after his death.
It emphasised that burial places are sacred under Bemba traditions and customs and are normally out of bounds when no burial is taking place.
The establishment warned that pressuring its subjects to reveal the grave, in circumstances that could lead to the desecration of a burial place, was highly provocative.
The statement does not establish that the grave has been disturbed or desecrated. Its concern centres on the reported attempts to locate it and the alleged methods being used to obtain information from villagers.
Questions that remain unanswered
Several important questions remain unresolved.
Who are the individuals allegedly travelling in the six vehicles? Which institution, if any, do they represent? Why are they seeking Kafwaya’s grave, and have they presented a court order or other lawful authorisation to villagers?
The answers matter because the Royal Establishment has raised allegations of threats and coercion, but the statement does not provide the identities or account of those accused.
Any official explanation would help establish the purpose of the reported operation and whether the individuals involved were acting under lawful authority.
Zambian Eye has not independently established the identities of the individuals or the purpose of their reported search.
The wider context
Kafwaya, a former Lunte Member of Parliament and Cabinet minister, died in August 2026 during a security operation at the Lusaka residence of opposition leader Brian Mundubile. His death generated significant public attention, including questions surrounding the circumstances of the operation.
The latest statement brings the focus to Lisunga, where his remains were buried, and to concerns raised by the traditional leadership over the reported attempts to locate his grave.
The circumstances surrounding the reported search should be established through evidence and responses from the relevant authorities rather than assumptions about its purpose.
The immediate issue is whether villagers are being pressured to disclose the burial place, who is behind the reported activity and what legal authority, if any, supports it.
What happens next?
The Bemba Royal Establishment has directed media enquiries to Richard Mukuka, Secretary to the Chitimukulu.
A response from the relevant authorities and from any individuals or institution alleged to be involved would be important in clarifying the circumstances.
For now, the establishment’s statement places a clear concern on record: it considers the reported conduct an affront to Bemba customs and the sanctity of burial places.
The central questions remain unanswered: who is looking for Kafwaya’s grave, why are they looking for it, and under what authority?
Zambian Eye will continue to follow the matter as further information becomes available.