‘IT’S A WITCH HUNT’

By GIDEON NYENDWA

CLAIMS by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) that they have seized the 15 flats belonging to former First Lady, Esther Lungu, are just attempts to legitimise the illegality of what they had done in taking possession of the property, Lawyer, Makebi Zulu has said.

Mr Zulu was commenting on a DEC statement claiming that they had now seized the properties.

After a dramatic day which included the appearance of Ms Lungu at the DEC offices, accompanied by her husband, the lawyers assured that the matter was closed as far as they are concerned.

Mr Zulu told reporters at the Lungu residence that the matter was settled.

Mr Zulu told reporters at the Lungu residence that the matter was settled.

“We consider the matter involving former first lady Esther Lungu settled because we have given them the answers to all the questions they wanted,” Lawyer Makebi Zulu has said.

Mr Zulu who is representing Ms Lungu, said after interrogation Ms Lungu had furnished the DEC with all the information they wanted about the famous 15 flats in State Lodge that belonged to the former first lady.

After an interrogation that lasted for about an hour, Mr Zulu said they considered the matter with DEC settled and anything else would be a witch hunt.

“This matter is settled unless if there is witch hunt involved,” he said.

Mr Zulu said the mistake that the DEC made was to categorise a property to be proceeds of crimes before even knowing who the owner was.

He said DEC was asserting that the property had a title for a property in Kasama and they gave the right title and other documents after doing a search at the Ministry of Lands which DEC official should have done before raising any allegations.

The former first lady arrived at the DEC at around 10:40 hours in the company of her husband former President Mr. Edgar Lungu, daughter Tasila Lungu Mwansa who is Chawama member of Parliament and supporters that included PF members of parliament and senior party officials.

Upon arrival, Ms. Lungu could not immediately proceed for interrogation because her team was stopped by the police to check who else was in the vehicle before the convoy could be allowed to enter the DEC premises as some PF supporters wanted to force themselves in.

The stoppage caused commotion as suspected UPND cadres took advantage of the situation by flashing UPND symbols, banging on the vehicle  carrying  the former president  and uttering unpalatable words against him under the watch of the police.

The police said they were under instructions not to allow Equity and Economic Party president Chilufya Tayali enter the premises. Mr Tayali had apparently gotten a lift in one the entourage vehicles and police wanted to fish him out.

However, PF officials and lawyers refused to budge.

The commotion continues for about 10 minutes until Ms. Lungu’s lawyer Makebi Zulu and PF official intervened and were later allowed to enter the premises with Mr Tayali.

And commenting on the matter, DEC public relations officer Mathias Kamanga said the interview with the former first lady went well.