Ex-president Lungu’s son, Daliso, claims seized properties, vehicles funded by father

Daliso Lungu, son of former president Edgar Lungu, has claimed that his father financed the purchase and development of seized properties, which include 69 vehicles worth over K24 million.

Daliso submitted an affidavit opposing the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) application for non-conviction-based forfeiture of the properties.

He argued that the 69 vehicles and 25 pieces of land across the country were legally acquired and not tainted.

The affidavit, filed at the Economic and Financial Crimes Court, claims that Edgar Lungu bought most of the vehicles, including a Toyota Prado, Nissan NP300, Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruiser, which were registered under Saloid Traders Limited, a company owned by Daliso.

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Daliso also stated that he owned a filling station operated by Saloid Traders, leased to Total Energies, generating $8,000 per month since 2018.

“I had other various sources of income as the business run by Saloid Traders Limited is a family business, and the bulk of its purchase and business operations were facilitated and financed by my father. I admit that I own the properties and that they are not proceeds of crime as I genuinely acquired them,” he submitted.

The affidavit further stated that four vehicles, including three Shacman Tipper trucks and one trailer, were bought by Saloid Traders Limited on a credit sale agreement and used in normal business operations under a lease.

Daliso argued that the evaluation reports submitted by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) did not reflect the actual costs of purchase and development of the properties, consisting instead of assumptions and opinions.

He also contested the DPP’s decision to divert rentals from Total Energies into a forfeiture account, arguing the DPP had no legal authority to do so.

Daliso asserted that the properties were gifts from his father, legally acquired and not proceeds of crime.

He maintained that his work history and other sources of income were not disputed.

The properties in question were seized, but Daliso insisted they were legally acquired and not proceeds of crime.

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