Zambian former First Lady Esther Lungu and her daughter Chiyeso Katete were arrested for possession of property allegedly derived from criminal activities, according to African media.
Authorities announced the arrest in the nation’s capital Lusaka on Thursday along with another close relative named Charles Phiri.
Esther Lungu “failed to give a reasonable explanation” of how she acquired a $1.5 million estate in the capital, according to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). However, Former President Edgar Lungu stated that the family would challenge the allegations in court.
The former president accuses the government of persecuting him and members of his Patriotic Front (PF) party to prevent him from returning to politics ahead of the 2026 elections. He recently claimed to have come under house arrest because of his political activism, although the government denied that.
The DEC said in a statement that Lungu owned “15 white double storey flats” located in the State Lodge area of Lusaka’s Chongwe town. The exact date of acquisition of the property, jointly owned with other unidentified persons, remains unclear. However, the DEC stated that she acquired the property between 2015 and 2023. Moreover, authorities also charged her daughter with acquiring three other flats in Lusaka allegedly bought with fraudulent practices.
Further, she was arrested for possession of 1 high-cost house, four chicken runs, and associated external works in the property.
They were all released on bail after hours of interrogation by DEC officials, Edgar Lungu revealed. He announced his return to politics in October last year, prompting the government to withdraw his pension benefit.
Unsuccessful presidency
Lungu left politics after he ceded the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021. Following six years in power, Lungu left the southern African country in heavy debt and an unstable economy.
Furthermore, several former ministers, government officials and members of Lungu’s family came to the attention of Zambia‘s investigative authorities as part of an anti-corruption campaign launched by President Hichilema. The latter promised to return all resources allegedly looted while Lungu was in power.
However, critics argue that the anti-corruption campaign is politically motivated.
