Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s aide arrested

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested former President Edgar Lungu’s spokesman Amos Chanda for an incident late last month.

Commission spokeswoman Queen Chibwe said Chanda was charged along with his wife, Mable Nakaundi Chanda, and his sister-in-law Ruth Nakaundi.

“Chanda has been charged with one count of using insulting language … and one count of obstruction,” Chinwe told reporters in Lusaka after Chanda underwent eight hours of questioning at the commission’s offices. “Mrs. Chanda and Miss Nakaundi are jointly charged with one count of using insulting language and one count of obstruction.

Chibwe said the charges stem when three ACC officers searched Chanda’s properties in Lusaka, including a farm and apartment on Oct. 27.

She said the insulting act was conduct likely to give provocation to the named officers to cause them to break the peace or commit an offense.

Chibwe said Mrs Chanda and Miss Nakaundi were charged with similar offenses.

The trio also obstructed and delayed ACC officers from searching their residence when they said keys to the bedrooms were with another person purported to have traveled out of town when in fact the person had not.

“The three have been released on bond and will appear in court soon,” she said.

Chanda remained mute after the interrogation despite a series of questions from reporters.

He did, however, call the process a witch-hunt after the Oct. 27 search on his properties, adding that he would not be used as a scapegoat for the wrongs of the previous or current regime.