Heavily armed police officers raided the residence of Zambia’s former president Edgar Lungu and impounded cars they said were allegedly stolen by the ex-first lady.

Police had received a complaint from two women that the former first lady had “grabbed” three vehicles and a property title deed from them, an allegation Esther Lungu’s described as “insulting,” according to her lawyer, Makebi Zulu who said his client was the victim.

Esther was later questioned by the police where she gave her side of the story.

The victim, who has been named but not further described, was made to surrender the vehicles after having been driven to the ex-first lady’s residence, police said.
Scores of Lungu’s supporters mainly from the former governing Patriotic Front party descended at the house in a show of solidarity to Lungu and his family.
Raphael Nakachinda, a spokesman for Lungu’s party, accused Hichilema’s government of harbouring “paranoia and anger and vindictiveness.” In 2021 Lungu lost elections to President Hakainde Hichilema, who before winning the vote by a landslide was a veteran opposition leader.