IBA Murder Trial: Key Witness Insists on Truthfulness Amid Cross-Examination

William Shawa, a state witness in the ongoing trial over the death of former Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General Guntila Muleya, has insisted he is speaking honestly. The police reservist told the Lusaka High Court that he has no option but to tell the truth whilst under cross-examination from defence lawyer Chawezi Ngoma.

Ngoma had questioned Shawa on why he offered an apology to the accused during his testimony earlier in the week. In response, Shawa clarified that he apologised after recognising two of the accused, Mthusani Dokowe and Alex Caleb Zulu, as fellow officers who accompanied him during the apprehension of Muleya on the day of the alleged murder.

Rejecting the suggestion that he was trying to shift blame to others to escape liability, Shawa firmly denied any attempt to falsely implicate the four accused men.

He also refuted allegations that he had shot Muleya using an AK-47 rifle that was reportedly returned to him during the operation. According to Shawa, he never saw any of the accused commit the murder and maintained that his account was based on what he knew to be true.

The case remains ongoing before the Lusaka High Court, with further proceedings expected as the trial develops.