The former first lady of Zambia, Esther Lungu has been arrested on charges of money laundering, according to her lawyer Makebi Zulu.
The arrest occurred Thursday evening, following an extensive interrogation regarding properties held by the Lungu family in Lusaka.
Esther Lungu, 66, along with her two daughters, was detained and questioned about a block of flats located in Lusaka’s upscale New Kasama district.
These properties, constructed at a cost of 41 million kwacha ($1.6 million), are suspected to be proceeds of crime. The Anti-Drug Agency of Zambia stated that Lungu failed to provide a reasonable explanation for the acquisition of the flats, leading to the arrest on money laundering charges.
Her lawyer, Makebi Zulu, disclosed that the properties in question were developed by her husband, former President Edgar Lungu, who served as the head of state from 2015 until his electoral defeat in 2021.
Edgar Lungu, 67, has since announced his intention to re-enter politics, with eyes on the 2026 general elections. He has repeatedly claimed that his family is being harassed as part of a political vendetta.
This incident marks the second time Esther Lungu has encountered legal trouble. Last year, her residence was raided amid allegations of vehicle theft.
