Zambia’s High Court has ordered the seizure of more than $1.3 million (£923,000) in assets from Dalitso Lungu, son of late former President Edgar Lungu. The forfeiture includes 79 vehicles, 23 properties, a shopping mall, petrol station, luxury apartments, and an executive residence in Lusaka. The court ruled that 39-year-old Dalitso Lungu and his company, Saloid Traders Limited, failed to provide verifiable evidence showing the assets were acquired legally. Records indicated his previous employment, including stints at a Lusaka beverage company and the Zambia Revenue Authority, could not account for such wealth. Investigations found his company’s financial statements, tax returns, and bank records did not justify ownership of the high-value properties and vehicles.
Dalitso Lungu’s lawyers have said they will appeal the ruling by the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court. Other Lungu family members have faced similar investigations. In 2024, the High Court ordered former First Lady Esther Lungu to forfeit 15 flats worth $3.5 million. The asset seizure unfolds amid an ongoing dispute over Edgar Lungu’s burial. The government of President Hakainde Hichilema seeks to repatriate Lungu’s remains for a state funeral with full honours, while the family insists on a private burial in South Africa. Lungu’s body remains in a Johannesburg funeral home as legal battles continue. Critics of the anti-corruption drive argue it may be politically motivated, reflecting tensions between the Lungu family and the current administration.
