Zambia police arrest three suspects over alleged killing of retired air force brigadier

Police in Lusaka have arrested three suspects in connection with the suspected murder of retired Zambia Air Force officer Brigadier General Mike Obistor Mbewe, 65, authorities said on Thursday. Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Chipo Kaitisha, said in a statement that the arrests followed the discovery on February 23 of an abandoned silver Toyota Hilux near the Assemblies of God Church by a 14-year-old boy from Chainda Compound. Kaitisha said the vehicle, registration BAF 5805, was believed to have been left at the location between 22:00 hours on February 22 and 13:00 hours on February 23.

Police recovered the vehicle shortly after the report. “The vehicle keys were found in the possession of a 19-year-old male juvenile of Chainda Compound, who informed officers that he had collected the vehicle from the NAPSA Flats area together with Gift Chisenga before parking it near the church,” she said. Later the same day, at around 16:00 hours, the victim’s sister, Ethel Mbewe, 49, reported Brigadier General Mbewe missing.

She said he had left his home in Chongwe on the evening of February 22 and failed to return. “Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Gift Chisenga, aged 24, of 10 Miles in the Mungule area, on February 25,” Kaitisha said. She added that further inquiries resulted in the apprehension of Christopher Banda, 23, of Chainda Compound.

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Preliminary findings indicate that Banda allegedly met the retired officer in Chainda and drove him to a nearby mountainous area, where the victim became unconscious. Police suspect poisoning and believe the suspects abandoned him before driving his vehicle back to Chainda, where it was later recovered. “The suspects subsequently led officers to a mountainous area in Meanwood Ibex, where the body of Brigadier General Mbewe was discovered,” Kaitisha said.

The body has been taken to the mortuary at the University Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. Kaitisha said the three suspects — Banda, Chisenga and the 19-year-old juvenile — are in police custody. She said investigations into the motive and full circumstances of the killing are continuing.

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