A 26-year-old female companion of a 53-year-old retired brigadier general has been arrested for allegedly attempting to murder him following an altercation.
Abigail Kalyabanyama, of Nyumba Yanga, was apprehended in connection with an attempted murder case reported to Woodlands Police Station on July 27, 2025, around 01:00 hours.
Police assistant public relations officer Godfrey Chilabi said investigations revealed that the victim, Brigadier General Banda (Retired), was shot twice in the back of the head, sustaining serious gunshot wounds in an incident that occurred on July 26, 2025, around 23:40 hours, behind Crossroads Mall in Kabulonga, Lusaka.
He said on the same day at about 17:00 hours, Brigadier General Banda (Retired) drove a vehicle, registration number AB 1158, to pick up Ms Kalyabanyama,described as his female companion, from Nyumba Yanga and proceeded to Palabana.
Mr Chilabi said around 23:30 hours, while en route to drop her home, the two reportedly had a disagreement.
“Upon reaching Crossroads Mall, the retired general parked the vehicle and refused to continue driving until the matter was resolved,” he said.
Mr Chilabi said following a brief altercation outside the vehicle, the retired general retrieved his firearm from the car and fired at Ms Kalyabanyama, who was leaning on the bonnet, missing her and hitting the vehicle instead.
He said Ms Kalyabanyama then allegedly grabbed the firearm and shot the victim twice in the back of the head, causing him to collapse.
“Police officers who responded to the report found both the suspect and the victim at the scene. The victim was lying in a pool of blood beside a loaded pistol, with some empty cartridges also found. He was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for medical attention,” Mr Chilabi said.
He added that Brigadier General Banda (Retired) remains admitted to UTH, where his condition is reported to be stable.
Meanwhile, the suspect remains in custody and will appear in court soon for the offence of attempted murder.
(Mwebantu, Sunday, 10th August, 2025)
