HOME Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu’s response in Parliament to a legitimate question regarding the tragic killing of small-scale miners in Mufumbwe was not only inappropriate, but also deeply troubling.
Instead of addressing the core issue – why unarmed, illegal miners were shot dead by police officers – Mr. Mwiimbu veered off into a politically charged tirade against the late former President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) government.
In doing so, he not only failed to provide answers but also disrespected the intelligence of the nation.
Zambians want to be told the truth about the cold-blooded deaths of the small-scale miners, nothing else.
The question posed by PF Lundazi Member of Parliament Brenda Nyirenda was straightforward: Why did the Zambia Police use lethal force against citizens engaging in illegal mining activities?
These are citizens – many of them young, impoverished, and desperate – who have long operated under difficult circumstances. Illegal mining is not a new phenomenon in Zambia, nor was it unique to the Mufumbwe incident.
It has been a persistent challenge across successive administrations. What stands out in this case, however, is the unprecedented level of lethal force employed.
Instead of offering a measured, factual explanation, Mr. Mwiimbu chose to revisit the violent episodes of the past – episodes the nation is all too familiar with – and redirect blame to a regime that is no longer in power.
Yes, the PF era had its documented human rights concerns, and acknowledging those injustices is part of preserving historical memory.
But that does not excuse the UPND government from its present-day responsibilities. This is not about yesterday; it is about today’s accountability.
To suggest that the deaths of Nsama Nsama, Joseph Kaunda, or Mapenzi Chibulo under the PF somehow justify or diminish the outrage over the killings in Mufumbwe is a dangerous precedent.
It implies that state-sponsored violence is tolerable, so long as it is contextualized within a broader political narrative. This cannot be accepted. Citizens do not want comparisons; they want accountability, transparency and reform.
Leadership means owning both the successes and failures of governance. When people are killed by police officers under your watch, the appropriate response is not to deflect or politicize – it is to explain, investigate and act.
If the miners posed a threat, what level of force was appropriate under the law? Were there non-lethal options? What instructions were given to the officers? Where is the report? These are the answers the nation demands, not political theatre.
Mr. Mwiimbu’s remarks not only failed to provide clarity but also risked deepening public mistrust in the police and the government.
The lives lost in Mufumbwe are not political pawns. They were Zambians whose families deserve the truth. That truth cannot be buried under rhetorical assaults on former leaders.
The UPND promised a new dawn – a government of accountability, justice and human dignity. It cannot claim that mantle while refusing to take responsibility for the actions of its security forces.
Mr Mwiimbu must remember that history will also judge this administration. In power now, the UPND must act like it, not hide behind the shadows of those who came before.
