By Ollus Ndomu
Ndola, June 3, 2024 – Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu has defended the source of his and his family’s wealth, asserting in an interview with Voice of America that his financial success stems from his career as a “top notch lawyer” before entering politics.
Lungu, who served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021, stated, “I was a lawyer before I became a politician and not just any other lawyer, I was a top notch lawyer so I made a lot of money.” He added, “I brought my children into business and they began working on their own and so did my wife.”
This statement comes in the wake of a series of arrests involving his family members on charges related to money laundering and possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime. Last week, his wife Esther, daughter Chiyeso, and nephew Charles Phiri were detained by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
His other daughter, Tasila, was also due to appear before the DEC but was unavailable. A year ago, his son Dalitso and daughter-in-law were arrested for possession of 21 vehicles and fixed assets worth over K31 million.
Lungu has accused the current government of targeting his family unfairly. “How we acquired the money is there for people to see. There’s a track record from my practice as a lawyer and a politician. This didn’t come overnight,” he said.
Despite these claims, Lungu’s legal career is not without blemishes. The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) suspended his practicing license in 2010 for misappropriating a widow’s funds. However, Lungu insists that his wealth and that of his family is legitimate and derived from his successful legal practice.
“My wife was unemployed, she was dependent on me and I was supporting her like every other person supports their wife. And when you support them and they utilize that money and they even tell the law enforcement that this was the person who gave us this, why can’t they ask the person how much their salary was?” he questioned.
Addressing the broader context of his governance and the criticisms it faces, Lungu argued that his past should not preclude him from speaking out against current issues.
“Just because it happened in my tenure doesn’t mean I can’t condemn it,” he argued, referring to the thuggery associated with his administration.
The Hichilema administration is scrutinizing the exponential growth of Lungu’s wealth during his seven-year rule, a period marked by accusations of extensive corruption and brutal political tactics.
Despite the controversies, Lungu maintains that he is well-placed to offer advice to President Hakainde Hichilema, stating, “Unlike what most people think, I am actually in a better position of advising President Hakainde Hichilema as I came before him.”
As the investigation continues, the former president’s declarations of innocence and defense of his family’s wealth remain under intense public and legal scrutiny.
