By Ebi Kesiena
On Wednesday, Dozens of heavily armed police officers raided the residence of Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu and impounded cars they said were allegedly stolen by the ex-first lady.
According to the Police, it has instituted investigations following a report of theft of three vehicles and managed to locate the properties at Mrs. (Esther) Lungu’s residence in a suburb of the capital, Lusaka.
“The suspect has been summoned to appear before the police today,” Police spokesman Danny Mwale said.
Police said Lungu’s wife allegedly “grabbed” the vehicles – a Mitsubishi truck, and two small Toyota sedans – from a woman in August last year.
The victim, who has been named but not further described, was made to surrender the vehicles after having been driven to the ex-first lady’s residence, police said.
Scores of Lungu’s supporters mainly from the former governing Patriotic Front party descended at the house in a show of solidarity to Lungu and his family.
In 2021 Lungu lost elections to President Hakainde Hichilema, who before winning the vote by a landslide was a veteran opposition leader.
However, Raphael Nakachinda, a spokesman for Lungu’s party, has accused Hichilema’s government of harbouring “paranoia and anger and vindictiveness.”
