By 
University of Lusaka (UNILUS) student Madiba Zulu, 21, has made an emotional plea in court, insisting he played no role in the death of his father, Alex Zulu.
“I did not murder my father. I love my father and can’t murder him,” Madiba told the court, his voice filled with emotion.
Madiba is jointly accused with his mother, Mwila Kasase, a 48-year-old Director at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Prosecutors allege that Kasase orchestrated her husband’s death with her son’s involvement.
Judgment in the case has been set for May 2, 2025.
Giving his defense testimony before Judge Irene Mbewe, Madiba described a turbulent household, alleging that his father was physically abusive toward his mother, himself, and his siblings.
On the morning of July 28, 2023, he said his mother left the house while his father stayed behind. Later, a confrontation erupted in the kitchen.
“I heard a big noise and my mom shouting my name,” Madiba testified. “When I rushed in, I found my dad on top of her, punching her. I managed to separate them and ran outside.”
As the conflict escalated, he said his father threw a fan at Kasase but missed. Shortly after, he lost his balance and fell down the stairs.
Madiba claimed that despite the altercation, he left the house and drove away. When he returned later that night in a different vehicle, his father asked him to book a taxi to the hospital.
At the hospital, he recalled, his father insisted on undergoing surgery despite having consumed alcohol.
“My mom asked if it was okay for someone who had been drinking to have surgery, but my dad told the doctors not to listen to her,” he said.
Later, Madiba and his brother were sent home. Then, at around 17:00 hours, he received a text message that shattered his world:
“My condolences.”
“I knew then that my dad had passed away,” he said.
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During cross-examination, prosecutors pressed Madiba on inconsistencies in his testimony, including a text message from his cousin alleging that he had thrown a trunk at his father and pushed him down the stairs.
“I was in shock when I received the message about my dad’s passing. I cannot remember,” he responded.
When asked whether he and his siblings had beaten their father with planks and stones, he firmly denied it.
Madiba also distanced himself from claims that his father had accused him of breaking his arm.
Under questioning from the defense, he described his relationship with his father as “good” but admitted that Alex Zulu had been physically abusive toward his family.
Medical records, he said, showed that his father had told doctors his injuries were caused by a “jump and fall”—not an attack.
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