ZAMBIA’S former President Edgar Lungu’s home has been surrounded by police demanding to search the property as part of a corruption probe. According to a spokesman for the country’s former ruling Patriotic Front party, Raphael Nakachinda, police forcefully gained access to the Lusaka home of the ex-president.
The move has been criticised as unconstitutional and criminal by Nakachinda, who accused the government of not respecting the supreme law of the land that confers immunity to the former president.
‘It’s not only unconstitutional, but criminal — this government never to respect the supreme law of the land, which is the constitution, which confers the former president with immunity,’ Nakachinda said.
Meanwhile, Zambian police spokesman Dan Mwale confirmed on Wednesday that police were still outside the property and could not provide any statement regarding the reasons for the house’s surround.
The anti-corruption campaign in Zambia has faced criticism for being used to target and intimidate political opponents. Many officials who served under former President Lungu have been arrested, and his family members questioned. Critics have accused the government of President Hakainde Hichilema of using the fight against corruption as a means to pursue political vendettas.
The police action follows a summons by Zambia’s anti-money laundering agency to former first lady Esther Lungu over the ownership of 15 luxury flats in Lusaka, which investigators believed were ill-gotten gains. The Lungus denied any wrongdoing, and no charges were filed. Lungu’s lawyer stated that the matter was closed.
Hichilema’s United Party for National Development defeated Lungu’s Patriotic Front party nearly two years ago. The move to surround Lungu’s home is seen as an attempt to step up the government’s efforts against corruption and enhance transparency in the country’s political system.
