Former first lady Esther Lungu has been arrested on charges of money laundering, her lawyer revealed on Friday. This comes just days after her husband, former President Edgar Lungu, claimed they were being unfairly targeted as part of a political vendetta.
What They Are Saying
Esther Lungu, 66, along with her two daughters, was detained on Thursday evening after enduring hours of questioning about several properties in Lusaka, the capital city. Lawyer Makebi Zulu shared that she has since been released on bail.
“The former first lady has been arrested for possessing properties suspected to be proceeds of crime and faces money laundering charges,” Zulu stated.
The properties in question are a block of luxury flats in Lusaka’s upscale New Kasama area, reportedly built by her husband, Edgar Lungu, 67. The flats cost a staggering 41 million kwacha ($1.6 million) to construct.
Zambia’s anti-drug agency insisted that Esther Lungu couldn’t provide a “reasonable explanation” for how she financed these flats, which they believe are linked to criminal activities.
Why It Matters
Edgar Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 until his election defeat in 2021 to current President Hakainde Hichilema, has announced plans to re-enter the political arena for the 2026 elections. He has repeatedly complained about a shrinking democratic space in Zambia and claims his family is being harassed as part of a broader political scheme.
The police have even cautioned Edgar Lungu against turning his routine morning jogs into political rallies. Just last week, he asserted that he was “practically under house arrest,” a claim which the authorities denied.
This isn’t Esther Lungu’s first encounter with law enforcement either. Last year, her home was raided over accusations that she had stolen several vehicles.
Bottom Line
The saga continues to unfold, painting a picture of a deeply divided political landscape in Zambia, where accusations and counter-accusations of corruption and political retribution seem to be the order of the day.
