Muleya Murder Trial, State Closes Case as High Court Sets January Ruling

The prosecution has closed its evidence in the murder trial of former Independent Broadcasting Authority Director General Guntila Muleya, and the Lusaka High Court will rule on 26 January 2027 on whether the four accused have a case to answer.

Judge Vincent Siloka set the date on Thursday after the State called its 38th and final witness, Detective Inspector Bernard Lupanda, the arresting officer. Charged with murder are IBA accountant Francis Chipyoka, systems engineer Samuel Dokowe, and police officers Thusani Dokowe and Alex Caleb Zulu. They are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

According to a statement on the trial, Mr Muleya had been DG for less than three months when he was allegedly abducted from the Mika Convention Centre on 23 July 2024. A police reservist, William Shawa, testified that Mr Zulu and Mr Thusani Dokowe handcuffed him and took him away, ostensibly to Lusaka Central Police Station. His body was found the next morning beside a road in Njolwe, Chongwe District, handcuffed and with gunshot wounds.

The court also heard that Mr Muleya had directed a review of IBA spending, and that bank witnesses said funds presented as payments to the Zambia Revenue Authority were paid into accounts of a company associated with Mr Samuel Dokowe. The State also presented vehicle tracking, fingerprint and CCTV evidence. These are statements made in evidence and the accused have not yet answered them.