Lawyer says Dalitso Lungu did not commit offence over forfeited properties – Zambia

The lawyer representing Dalitso Lungu, son of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, has said his client committed no offence by possessing properties that have since been forfeited to the state.

Lusaka, 11 February – In an interview with Nkanionline News, defence counsel Charles Changano argued that the assets in question were lawfully gifted to Dalitso Lungu by his father and that his client should not be held criminally liable for receiving them.

Mr Changano questioned why investigators did not interview the former president during their inquiries, particularly to establish how he acquired the properties before transferring them to his son. He suggested that such a step would have been central to determining the origin of the assets.

Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Court ordered the forfeiture of properties belonging to Dalitso Lungu, including more than 70 motor vehicles and several parcels of land, collectively valued at over 24 million kwacha. The court ruled that the assets were liable to seizure by the state.

Mr Changano said his client would appeal the judgment, maintaining that the ruling was flawed and that the forfeiture was unjustified.

Meanwhile, the National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) has said it will issue a statement outlining how the seized properties will be managed and potentially utilised by the state.

The case has drawn public attention amid ongoing scrutiny of assets linked to former senior government officials and their families, as authorities continue efforts to pursue suspected proceeds of crime through the courts.