Late IBA DG Feared for His Safety Before Murder

The Lusaka High Court heard testimony on Monday that the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General, Guntila Muleya, had expressed concern about work-related stress and wished he had protection before his death.

Testifying before Justice Vincent Siloka, Gutila’s brother, Muntanga Muleya, said the late IBA chief often spoke about challenges at work and had expressed concern for his safety when they met for lunch in Lusaka’s Longacres area in June last year.

This would be the last time Muleya would see his brother until he was asked to identify his body at Maina Soko Military Hospital.

“I found him lying face up, handcuffed, with a towel over his face…when they removed it, I saw he had wounds on his face. He was disfigured,” said Muleya.

Four men are facing murder charges in the high-profile case: 29-year-old police officer M’Thusani Dokowe; his elder brother, systems engineer Samuel Dokowe; IBA accountant Francis Chipyoka, 42; and 30-year-old police officer Caleb Zulu.

During cross-examination, defence lawyers Friday Mulenga and Chawezi Ngoma challenged Muleya’s testimony, questioning the admissibility of statements based on conversations rather than direct knowledge.

“You’re only telling the court what your brother told you, not what you personally witnessed,” said one lawyer on behalf of the defendants.

“Yes, that’s correct,” Muleya responded.

When asked if his brother ever mentioned any of the accused by name, Muleya answered in the affirmative, but chose not to elaborate.

During a lengthy exchange with defence lawyer Fred Mulenga, Muleya revealed that his late brother had not reported any work-related pressure to the police, the Anti-Corruption Commission, or any other authority; instead, he had reported it to the IBA board.