The Zambia Police Service has arrested three suspects in connection with the suspected murder of retired Zambia Air Force Brigadier General Mike Obistor Mbewe.
In a statement, Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Chipo Kaitisha says on February 23, 2026, at around 14:00 hours, a 14-year-old male juvenile from Chainda Compound reported the discovery of an abandoned silver Toyota Hilux, registration number BAF 5805, near the Assemblies of God Church in Chainda, Lusaka.
The vehicle is believed to have been parked at the location between 22:00 hours on February 22 and 13:00 hours on February 23, 2026, with the vehicle keys being found in the possession of a 19-year-old male juvenile from Chainda Compound, who informed officers that he had collected the vehicle from the NAPSA Flats area together with Gift Chisenga before parking it near the church.
Later that same day, at around 16:00 hours, Ethel Mbewe, aged 49, reported her brother, Brigadier General Mike Obistor Mbewe, missing, stating that he had left his residence in Chongwe on February 22, 2026, at around 18:00 hours and had not returned home.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Gift Chisenga, aged 24, of 10 Miles in the Mungule area, on February 25, 2026, and the apprehension of Christopher Banda, aged 23, of Chainda Compound.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Christopher Banda allegedly met the deceased in Chainda Compound and drove him to a nearby mountainous area, where Brigadier General Mbewe allegedly became unconscious.
The suspects allegedly poisoned and abandoned him at the scene and drove his vehicle back to Chainda Compound, where it was later recovered.
The suspects subsequently led officers to a mountainous area in Meanwood Ibex, where the body of Brigadier General Mbewe was discovered.
The body has since been deposited at the University Teaching Hospital mortuary, where a postmortem examination will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death with the three suspects remaining in police custody.
By Mutinta Hamusankwa
