Lusaka | September 24, 2026 – The High Court has heard further medical and forensic evidence in the murder trial involving the late retired Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, with a nurse telling the Court what the former Zambia Air Force Commander said shortly after he was brought to hospital following a shooting, while a forensic analyst testified on DNA findings from items recovered at the scene.

Testifying before High Court Judge Conceptor Zulu, Sergeant Mutinta Muleya, a nurse who was on duty in the emergency department at Maina Soko Military Medical Centre on January 14, 2024, recalled attending to the retired General after he was brought to the facility at about 17:00 hours.

Sergeant Muleya told the Court that Lieutenant General Shikapwasha appeared restless and was holding his abdomen with a white towel when he arrived.
She testified that his vital signs were within normal ranges upon assessment and that he identified himself as retired General Shikapwasha.

The Court heard that while collecting blood samples, Sergeant Muleya asked what had happened.
According to her testimony, he responded that his gun had fired.

She told the Court that she did not ask further questions because he was restless at the time.

The prosecution subsequently called Forensic Analyst Innocent Makasa, who testified on the results of DNA analysis conducted on several items recovered in connection with the case.

Mr Makasa told the Court that analysis of a white towel generated a single male DNA profile which matched a reference sample labelled male Shikapwasha.

He further testified that DNA profiles obtained from a white vest, blouse and carpet contained contributions from multiple individuals and were therefore reported as inconclusive.

For the benefit of readers encountering the case for the first time, the proceedings arise from a shooting incident at the Shikapwasha family residence in Ibex Hill, Lusaka, on January 14, 2024. Lieutenant General Shikapwasha was subsequently taken to Maina Soko Military Medical Centre, where he died the following day.

His widow, Jane Lusengo, was subsequently charged with one count of murder contrary to Section 200 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. She pleaded not guilty and the matter was committed to the High Court for trial.

Since the trial commenced, the prosecution has presented evidence from witnesses covering different aspects of the circumstances surrounding the death.

Among the witnesses who have testified is the deceased’s daughter, Vanessa Shikapwasha, who gave evidence concerning events at the family residence immediately before and after the shooting. Her testimony included her account of seeing Lusengo with the firearm shortly after hearing the gunshot and of assisting in taking her father to hospital.

The Court also heard from Detective Inspector Jeff Sitali, a scenes-of-crime officer, who testified about his examination and photographic documentation of the residence. He told the Court about the condition of the scene when it was examined and the collection of various items for further forensic examination.

Another witness, Prisca Banda Daka, a former secretary at the church founded by the deceased and a person who lived at the Shikapwasha residence, testified about events surrounding the shooting and conversations she had with members of the household in its aftermath. Her evidence included what she was told about the circumstances immediately surrounding the incident.

The prosecution has also led forensic ballistic evidence through Inspector Isaac Kalimanshila. He testified that the fatal gunshot was fired from close range and gave evidence concerning the firearm, the gunshot wound and ballistic traces identified on items recovered during the investigation.

The Court was subsequently taken to the residence at Ibex Hill for a scene visit in connection with his evidence.

The latest proceedings have, therefore, added two further strands to the evidence before the Court: testimony from a medical practitioner concerning the deceased’s condition and reported statement shortly after the shooting, and forensic DNA evidence concerning items recovered from the scene.

The significance and weight to be attached to each piece of evidence remain matters for the Court to determine at the conclusion of the trial.

The matter is ongoing.