Zambia’s former First Lady has been arrested on money laundering accusations. This was revealed by her lawyer on Friday, 31 May 2024, just days after her husband alleged he was being targeted as part of a political vendetta. Esther Lungu, 66, was detained on Thursday, 30 May 2024, along with her two daughters after being questioned for hours. According to the information received by AFP through lawyer Makebi Zulu, she was recently released on bail. 

According to Zulu, The former First Lady has been arrested for being found in possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime and money laundering charges. The buildings in question, a block of flats in Lusaka’s affluent New Kasama sector, were erected by her husband, former President Edgar Lungu, 67, further implicating him in the allegations.

The Zambia Anti-drug Agency has stated that the former First Lady failed to explain how she acquired the flats, which cost 41 million kwacha ($1.6 million). It further declared that these properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, a serious legal implication.

Edgar Lungu led Zambia from 2015 to 2021 but lost an election to President Hakainde Hichilema, a veteran opposition leader who won by a landslide. Lungu announced his return to politics last year, with general elections scheduled for 2026. He has since complained about a shrinking democratic space in the country and a campaign of harassment against his family.

Police cautioned him not to make his daily jogs into political rallies, and he claimed he was “practically under house arrest” last week, which Police disputed. Esther Lungu’s current arrest was not her first encounter with the Police.

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