Tuesday, 01 June 2021 | By News Editor, Barotseland Post
AFUMBA, BAROTZIS INSIST MRS MOMBOTWA BE BURIED IN BAROTSELAND, AS SHE GETS 10-DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURNING
Barotseland campaigner and political prisoner Afumba Mombotwa has objected to the idea of burying his late wife, Emetrude Situmbeko Mwanangombe, in Kabwe, the place of her gruesome murder, as he wants her to go and rest in her homeland.
Objecting to the Zambian state’s directive that she be buried in Kabwe due to the decomposed state of her remains, Mr Afumba insisted that his wife will not rest in the place of her horrific murder.
And many Barotzis and family members have also vehemently refused to have Mrs Mombotwa buried in what they regard as a foreign land, regardless of the decomposed state of her remains. Mrs Mombotwa was murdered by the infamous Mukobeko Prison serial killer when she had gone to visit her husband at the maximum correctional facility.
Accordingly, her burial has now been slated for Wednesday, the 2nd of June 2021, in Limulunga, Barotseland.
Her remains have since arrived in Mongu in the early hours of today.
A burial program made available to the Barotseland Post indicates that Mrs Mombotwa will be buried in Limulunga, the Royal Capital of Barotseland.
Meanwhile, Barotseland campaigners have declared a 10-day national mourning period for the late Mrs Emetrude Situmbeko Mwanangombe-Afumba from the date she was confirmed dead in the spate of gruesome serial murders perpetrated by two serving Mukobeko prison inmates who escaped prison service.
Further, all those attending her funeral have been requested to wear black clothing in her honour on the day of her burial.
And updated information emanating from the prison and Zambian government authorities is that inmates James Chiteta and Miles Malaya, who had served 18 years of their 20-year prison sentences for aggravated robbery, had been allowed more liberties for good behaviour and were lately assigned work in the prison farms rather than in maximum confinement.
However, James Chiteta allegedly escaped prison service on the 7th of April 2021 and went on a rampage, raping and murdering at least 9 women who are all relatives or spouses of fellow inmates in an elaborate criminal scheme in which the two impersonated prison warders and called their victims separately to some meetings where they would supposedly discuss the impending release of their loved ones on parole or special presidential pardon.
James allegedly escaped lawful custody for a period of 45 days and committed these atrocities with the help of his co-suspect until he was re-captured after he had murdered his last victim in Kitwe.
For the last couple of weeks, several people missing some of the victims turned to the media seeking to know the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Unfortunately, Mrs Mombotwa too fell victim to James Chiteta when she had gone to visit her husband in early April at the maximum prison where he is serving a 15-year prison sentence for his peaceful campaign for Barotseland’s self-determination.
She was reportedly contacted by Chiteta who introduced himself as a prison warder who requested to meet with her to discuss the release of her husband, Mr. Afumba Mombotwa, through a presidential pardon supposedly negotiated by Amnesty International (AI).
After that phone call in early April, Mrs Mombotwa was never seen or heard from until her body was identified last Saturday as one of the victims of the serial killers.
Initial Zambia police investigations have revealed that Joseph Chiteta and Miles Malaya raped and murdered all their nine victims discovered so far, while the tenth victim was a six-month-old baby, between February and May 2021.
All the nine female victims were lured similarly, raped, and then murdered and buried in shallow graves around the prison farms where the two assailants were assigned to work the fields by the Prison authorities while they awaited their final release from prison.
An inquiry has since been opened to ascertain how the serial killer inmates acquired private details and official records of fellow prisoners’ relatives to call them and lure them to their deaths.
FUNERAL PROGRAM FOR THE LATE MRS EMETRUDE SITUMBEKO MWANANGOMBE-AFUMBA
(BORN: 16th August 1962; DIED: Between 2nd and 25th April 2021)
MORNING DURATION: From the 30th May to 8th June 2021
Funeral House: Limulunga Royal Capital
PROGRAM OUTLINE:
NB: The family, Church and RBG to preside over the program as guided to avoid overlapping roles. There shall not be nationalists carrying the casket at/or in church. Anything at the church should be done by the Church.
09:00 Mourners depart from the Funeral House to the Mortuary. (Nationalist and patriotic songs)
09:45 Preparation of the Body
10:30 Funeral cortege depart for Limulunga Central New Apostolic Congregation. The Church takes over
11: 00 Procession arrives at the Church (Church Choir sings)
11: 10 *Body viewing at the entrance of the Church?* (This will depend on the state of the Body and shall be determined by the family.)
14: 00 Church service commences (Church Choir sings)
>Opening song
>Sermon
>Special songs
>Church history (Church Choir sings)
>Prayer
13: 00 Departure from the Church to the Cemetery
The RBG and Church take over
13: 20 Official Opening:
>National Anthem
>Prayer by the Presiding Apostle (Church Choir sings)
>RBG, Family and Nationalists take over
13: 30 Tribute from:
>Spouse, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Kemmy Mombotwa Afumba – Administrator General of Barotseland
>From the Father
>Siblings
>Nieces and nephews (Solidarity songs by the Women’s League)
>The church takes over (Church Choir sings)
14: 00 Lowering of the Casket
14: 10 Committal of the Body (Church Choir sings)
RBG and family take over (Church Choir sings)
14: 20 Laying of wreaths:
>The Presiding Minister
>The Representative of the Head of the RBG
>Father
>The Representative of the Rt. Hon. Lord Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Royal Barotseland
>The Rt. Hon. Clement Wainyae Sinyinda – Lord High Chancellor of the Kingdom of Royal Barotseland
>Siblings and all relations
>Friends, etc. (Church Choir continues to sing)
14: 50 Speeches:
>RBG Representative
>International Conference Emerging States in Africa (ICESA) Representative
>Freedom Alliance International (FAI) Representative
>Royal Barotseland Authority (BRA) Representative (Patriotic songs)
15: 20 Vote of thanks by Family Representative
15: 30 National Anthem
15: 35 Prayer (Patriotic songs)
15: 45 End of program
16: 00 Departure to the funeral home
ENCOMIUM
“Just never give up! We may encounter defeats but we must not be defeated… The Barotseland struggle is not a failure. No matter how long it takes… If I lose my life fighting for this [justice], it is a decision I made without any regret because it is better to die for an idea that will live than live for an idea that will die. I also have to do my part patriotically, faithfully and fearlessly!” – Mrs E. Afumba
“For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends. – John 15:13 (The Passion Translation)
There is no higher expression of love than to give up your very life – to be willing to leave family and friends behind, knowing death is imminent.
To our fallen First Lady and the many brave heroes and heroines who have gone before and those pursuing justice for Barotseland, thank you for your sacrifice of love.
May God preserve your Souls and long live your undying, uncompromising Spirits!
Aluta continua!
Prepared by: The Office of the Administrator-General, ROYAL BAROTSELAND GOVERNMENT
-Barotseland Post