A registered nurse, Fuhana Patel, has testified before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that she and her mother were forced to surrender three vehicles and a house to former First Lady Esther Lungu under duress, with former President Edgar Lungu and armed police officers present.
Patel, 34, a resident of Libala South, stated that she was compelled to hand over a Toyota Runx and a Toyota Allex, both registered in her name, along with her mother’s house and a canter vehicle.
“I was scared because they had my mother. Some of the men were armed,” Patel told the court.
The case involves the former first lady, police officers James Phiri and Lee Chisulo, as well as Kapambwe Lungu and Catherine Banda, who are charged with theft of motor vehicles. All the accused have denied the charges.
Patel narrated that on August 9, 2021, she received a call informing her that armed individuals had taken her mother from her home in Jack Compound. She later learned that these individuals were police officers, who then instructed her to surrender documents for the vehicles and her mother’s house.
“They said they were going with the documents. I was scared,” Patel testified, adding that she was later taken to the former president’s residence, where she was confronted by Esther Lungu.
According to Patel, the former first lady accused her mother of withholding $400,000 that allegedly belonged to her. Patel denied any knowledge of the money.
“Madam Esther Lungu told us to surrender the property because she believed it was bought using her money. When we refused, the men behind us said they should take us to a place in Chongwe where people are tortured,” Patel said.
She claimed that out of fear, she and her mother were forced to sign documents surrendering the property.
“They told us that if we signed, the matter would end there,” she said.
She stated that she received a call the next day from the former first lady inquiring when they would move from the house.
“On January 10, 2022, my mother had called me and asked me to be a witness for a loan agreement for herself and my great-grandfather. I went to Jack Compound along Lilayi Road, and when I arrived, my mother wanted me to be a witness, and I signed that paper. I found my mother and my great-grandfather, Chief Mukuni,” she said.
“My grandfather jokingly said my mother wanted him to give her free money to buy a house, but the money she wanted was a lot, and he would give it to her as a loan. The document was shown to me, and it had a date of January 10, 2022, loan agreement Siloka Mukuni and Elizabeth Chanje Phiri,” she said.
The defense, however, objected to the document being produced as evidence, and the court ruled that it be subjected to a forensic handwriting expert. The case is being heard before Magistrate Mbuywana Sinvula.
The trial continues on May 19 and 20.
