#post_contentRaphael Nakachinda has visited to mourn Mutotwe Kafwaya after his prison release, declaring, “What is there to fear?” as questions over Kafwaya’s death persist.PF Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda has declared that there is nothing to fear following the death of former Cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, as he made his way to mourn his political colleague shortly after walking out of prison. LUSAKA – Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda has made an emotional return to public life,

PF Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda has declared that there is nothing to fear following the death of former Cabinet minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, as he made his way to mourn his political colleague shortly after walking out of prison.

LUSAKA – Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda has made an emotional return to public life, declaring that there is nothing to fear after the death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, whom he described as a dear brother.

“If a life of our dear brother Mutotwe Kafwaya was lost, what is it that we should fear about!” Nakachinda said.

Nakachinda made the remarks after being released from prison on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, following more than a year in custody over speech-related offences.

Rather than making a lengthy statement about his own incarceration, Nakachinda immediately turned his attention to mourning Kafwaya, whose death has become one of the most contentious political and security incidents in Zambia this year.

His remarks are likely to resonate within opposition circles, where Kafwaya’s death has continued to raise questions about the circumstances surrounding the security operation in which he was fatally shot.

Kafwaya died during a security operation

Kafwaya, a former Lunte Member of Parliament and Cabinet minister, died on August 14, 2026, during a joint security operation at a property in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area.

The Zambia Police Service later confirmed that he was the person fatally wounded during the operation, following days of uncertainty over his whereabouts.

According to the official account, security officers encountered resistance and gunfire when they arrived at the premises, prompting them to return fire. Kafwaya was subsequently identified by his family.

However, Amnesty International called for a prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, saying the authorities needed to establish what happened and ensure accountability where wrongdoing was found.

The incident has remained politically sensitive, with opposition figures demanding answers and authorities maintaining that investigations into the operation should establish the relevant facts.

Nakachinda’s latest remarks bring the issue back into the political spotlight at a moment when he is returning to active political engagement after his imprisonment.

A message of defiance after more than a year in prison

Nakachinda’s release comes after a lengthy legal battle over comments he made about President Hakainde Hichilema and the judiciary.

He was convicted in May 2024 over remarks alleging that the President had summoned judges to his private residence to influence judicial decisions. In October 2025, the High Court upheld his conviction and 18-month prison sentence.

The case attracted criticism from human rights advocates, who argued that criminal prosecution over political speech threatened freedom of expression.

Nakachinda’s return to public life therefore comes against the backdrop of continuing debate over political freedoms, the treatment of opposition figures and the boundaries of public criticism.

His statement following Kafwaya’s death appears to signal that imprisonment has not diminished his determination to remain politically active.

By invoking the loss of his colleague, Nakachinda framed his message around the risks faced by those involved in opposition politics.

What Nakachinda’s words mean for Zambia’s political debate

The statement, “What is it that we should fear about?” is likely to become a rallying message among supporters who see Nakachinda’s imprisonment and Kafwaya’s death as part of a broader pattern of pressure on the opposition.

However, the circumstances of Kafwaya’s death remain a matter requiring evidence-based investigation. Nakachinda’s remarks express his political reaction to the loss; they do not independently establish who was responsible or whether the death was unlawful.

For the PF, Nakachinda’s return could provide renewed momentum as the party navigates its political challenges and debates the future of the opposition.

For Government and law enforcement agencies, the continuing questions surrounding Kafwaya’s death underline the importance of transparent investigations and public confidence in the handling of politically sensitive cases.

Nakachinda has walked out of prison, but his first message suggests that the political questions surrounding his imprisonment and Kafwaya’s death are far from over.

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