Govt opposes Lungu’s daughter’s move to halt judgment execution of forfeited property

The State has firmly opposed any claims by former President Edgar Lungu’s daughter, Chiyeso Lungu, to retrieve alleged personal property from the State Lodge premises, recently forfeited under a court order.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) argued that no personal belongings could be rightfully released to Chiyeso, as the contents of three locked containers are under active investigation, suspected to be proceeds of crime.

The State urged the court to reject Chiyeso’s application to halt the judgment execution, which mandates the forfeiture of her Lusaka State Lodge properties.

These assets, valued at K9,375,438.62, include two farms, a high-cost residence, four chicken runs, and three flats, reportedly acquired between 2013 and 2021.

Chiyeso claimed that the April 16, 2024, judgment was excessively harsh, arguing that the DPP’s actions, including locking containers and rooms with her personal items, like furniture and appliances, went beyond the court’s order.

She appealed to the Court of Appeal, asserting a strong likelihood of success and warning that, without a stay, her appeal could become futile.

However, Emmanuel Khondowe, a senior investigator with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), denied Chiyeso’s claims, stating that DEC exercised due diligence and did not hastily seize the forfeited properties, which were under state control before the judgment.

Khondowe noted that Chiyeso provided no evidence of a legitimate claim to the container contents.

Khondowe further stated that Chiyeso’s husband was present during the takeover and raised no objections regarding personal belongings.

During investigations, Chiyeso reportedly distanced herself from the contents, saying they belonged to an unnamed tenant, not her.

The seized items remain under scrutiny as potential criminal assets, casting doubt on the strength of her appeal, according to Khondowe.

“The affidavit evidence clearly shows that the forfeited property served as a business site, not a personal residence for the applicant,” he stated.

He added that if tenant belongings, such as clothing or minor personal items, are confirmed, they could be released upon DEC verification.

The State maintained that Chiyeso’s request to stay the judgment execution was baseless, reiterating that the property seizure was lawful and supported by the ongoing criminal investigation.

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