Former Zambian president maintains that he has left active politics

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA)- Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu rebuffed social media speculation Tuesday that he was contemplating a political comeback, nearly one year after losing power to incumbent Hakainde Hichilema.

The country’s sixth president said in a statement by his administrative assistant Daniel Siwo that he was dismayed by continued attempts to put his name in disrepute by using false and alarming statements attributed to him in the media.

“The former head of state has requested well meaning Zambians to be critical of every statement alleged to have been issued by him before reacting to it. He has also appealed to the media, especially social media platforms, to desist from being used as tools for political propaganda if they are to maintain public confidence in their works,” said Siwo.

Lungu said he nor his office had given any interviews to journalists and asked Zambians to play a role in uniting the nation and put aside politics in matters that may injure the nation irrevocably.

He also expressed concern about what he said was smear politics that had gone on for too long, which he said had continued to divide the nation at the expense of building a better Zambia.

The statement coincided with his daughter, Tasila’s, interrogation early Tuesday by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on suspicion of money laundering.

The interrogations took a little more than an hour at the commission’s office in the nation’s capital of Lusaka.

Upon emerging from the interrogation, Tasila, in the company of her lawyers and husband, elected to remain quiet while walking out of the premises.

The unit did not issue a comment on the interrogation. Tasila currently serves as a Member of Parliament for Chawama, a Lusaka suburb where Lungu held a similar position before ascending to the presidency in 2015.

She holds the position on the Patriotic Front (PF) ticket, a party under which her father held all positions and stood as a presidential candidate in last year’s general elections.

Her questioning came barely a two weeks after her sibling, Dalitso, was questioned by the Government Joint Investigations Team.

(GJIT) regarding nine vehicles that were seized by police belonging to a company in which he was a co-director.

The GJIT also Tuesday charged and arrested former Defense Minister Geoffrey Mwamba on 24 offenses.

Mwamba, 68, a member of the PF, has been charged with eight counts of conflict of interest, 15 counts of being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and one count of money laundering.

Danny Mwale, a deputy police spokesman, confirmed Mwamba’s arrest to journalists.

“Mr. Mwamba whilst Defence Minister between 2012 and 2013 allegedly failed to disclose his interest in writing on three Zambia Army and five Zambia Air Force contracts awarded to Curzon Global Limited by the Ministry of Defence. Mr. Mwamba had interest in Curzon Global Limited,” said Mwale.

He said the money laundering allegation involves $632,000.

“Mr. Mwamba has also been charged for being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime involving $2 million. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday,” he added.

Mwamba did not issue a statement but Brian Mundubile, a leader of the opposition in parliament, described Mwamba’s apprehension as victimization of the opposition.