Four suspects—two police officers, a systems engineer, and an accountant—appeared in court yesterday, accused of fatally shooting Guntila Muleya, the director general of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), in July.
The suspects include police officers Mtusani Baza (29) from the Civic Centre area and Caleb Zulu (30) from Libala, as well as systems engineer Samuel Baza (37) from Chainda Township and Francis Chipyoka, an IBA accountant from Foxdale.
They were arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of Mr. Muleya, 44, who was found in Lusaka’s Njolwe area with gunshot wounds to the head and handcuffed.
Chipyoka and the others appeared before Lusaka magistrate Mutinta Mwenya for a mention, represented by lawyers Friday Mulenga Jr, Chawezi Ngoma, Mpwami Muskuwa, and another lawyer who was absent.
During the reading of the charges, the magistrate noted that the date of the incident was missing from the indictment. Prosecutor Malama Chisenga requested an adjournment to allow time for the State to amend the charge and include the date.
Chipyoka’s lawyer expressed hope that a committal certificate, required for trial in the High Court, would be ready by the next court date. The case was postponed to September 23, and the suspects remain in custody since murder charges are non-bailable. The court also heard that the prosecutors will be attending a week-long workshop, potentially impacting future proceedings.
