Police are investigating the kidnapping and murder of the newly appointed head of Zambia’s broadcasting regulator.
Guntila Muleya’s body was discovered on the outskirts of the capital, Lusaka, on Wednesday with gunshot wounds.
His death shocked people, especially because the motive is unknown and because gun violence is not common in the southern African country.
Police believe the director general of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) was kidnapped after leaving work on Tuesday.
The IBA is responsible for licensing, standards and compliance enforcement.
When Muleya did not return home on Tuesday night, his family alerted the police and began searching for him.
His body was discovered by a member of the public when he was on his way to work, police said.
Two bullet casings were also found at the scene.
“I want to assure the nation in light of this sad development that the people involved in this horrific murder of the IBA director-general will be held accountable,” Thabo Kawana, the top civil servant at Zambia’s information ministry, told reporters.
Muleya took up the role at IBA in May, replacing a veteran journalist who headed the authority for 10 years.
Previously, he was general manager in Zambia for South African pay TV company MultiChoice.
In a statement, the IBA said it was “deeply saddened” by the death and would continue to uphold the value and vision that Mr Muleya espoused during his brief tenure.
Additional reporting by Kennedy Gondwe in Lusaka.
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