A former Zambian minister, Mutotwe Kafwaya, has been killed during a security raid on property linked to opposition politician Brian Mundubile, according to Zambian police.

Kafwaya, 49, was fatally wounded during an exchange of gunfire between security forces and unidentified individuals in Lusaka, authorities said.

The operation was conducted by a joint security task force following Zambia’s presidential election. Police said 11 people were arrested and weapons were recovered during the raid.

According to the BBC, authorities accused Mundubile’s political alliance of involvement in insurgency and militia activities. Mundubile rejected the allegations as “total fabrications” and said he had not been informed about Kafwaya’s whereabouts after the former minister was shot.

Police said security personnel encountered gunfire and resistance from unidentified individuals and returned fire. One unidentified man was fatally wounded, with a firearm recovered from the scene. Kafwaya was later identified by members of his family.

However, accounts of the shooting remain disputed. A recent report said Mundubile alleged that soldiers entered his residence and opened fire, striking Kafwaya. The account has not been independently verified, while the government has rejected allegations that the army shot the former minister.

Kafwaya entered parliament in 2016 and later served as Zambia’s Minister of Works and Supply before becoming Minister of Transport and Communications under former President Edgar Lungu.

He remained involved in opposition politics after Lungu lost the 2021 presidential election to President Hakainde Hichilema. Electoral records confirm Kafwaya represented Lunte for the Patriotic Front.

The raid came amid heightened political tensions following Zambia’s presidential election. Hichilema was declared the winner, while Mundubile rejected the result and said he intended to challenge the outcome in court.

The United Nations human rights chief has expressed concern over the arrests linked to the security operation and urged Zambian authorities to respect the due-process rights of detainees.

The European Union election observation mission also raised concerns about aspects of the vote-counting process, including delays, verification procedures and the presence of military personnel at some tallying centres.

Kafwaya’s death is expected to attract further scrutiny as questions remain over the circumstances of the security operation and the treatment of opposition figures in its aftermath.