The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested two officials from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project, a programme valued at about US$10 million. The arrests form part of an ongoing investigation into how resources meant to strengthen Zambia’s livestock sector were managed.

Authorities identified the suspects as Succeed Mubanga, director of policy, planning and information at the ministry, and Chanda Mulenga, a stores officer. Both have been charged with offences related to possession and concealment of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission, the investigation centres on funds allocated to the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project, commonly referred to as SLIMP. The programme was designed to support livestock infrastructure development and improve productivity in the sector.

Investigators say financial analysis revealed suspicious asset acquisitions linked to individuals connected to the project. Some of the suspected proceeds of crime were allegedly used to purchase property and other assets.

The Anti-Corruption Commission says Mubanga faces two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and two counts of concealment of property. Authorities allege the assets include a motor vehicle, a residential property and investments in government bonds.

Mulenga has been charged with one count of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime and two counts of concealment of property. Investigators say one of the properties linked to the case includes a modern house located in Kasama District.

The charges have been brought under the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010, legislation that allows authorities to investigate and recover assets believed to have been obtained through criminal activity.

The Anti-Corruption Commission said the arrests followed what it described as a comprehensive investigation into the management of funds under the livestock infrastructure programme. Officials say the probe involved tracing financial transactions and asset ownership connected to the project.

Authorities say the arrests of Mubanga and Mulenga bring the total number of suspects linked to the case to nine individuals. The commission has indicated that investigations remain active and that additional arrests could follow as more financial records are examined.

Both suspects have since been released on bond and are expected to appear in court as the legal process proceeds. The Anti-Corruption Commission says it has also moved to restrict and potentially seize assets suspected to be linked to the alleged misappropriation.

The livestock sector remains an important component of Zambia’s agricultural economy, particularly in rural areas where many households depend on livestock production for income and food security.

Government and development partners have invested heavily in programmes aimed at improving livestock infrastructure, veterinary services and disease control systems. Projects such as the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project were designed to strengthen livestock value chains and expand opportunities for farmers.

Investigators say ensuring that such funds are used for their intended purposes is critical for maintaining public confidence in development programmes. The Anti-Corruption Commission says it will continue pursuing cases involving suspected misuse of public resources as the investigation progresses.

Former Lumezi Member of Parliament Munir Zulu says the months he spent in prison stand as the most difficult period of his life, describing the experience as one that forced him to confront hardship, reflection and a completely different understanding of freedom.

Speaking after completing his sentence, Zulu explained that prison life exposed him to conditions that many people outside the correctional system rarely imagine. The former lawmaker said incarceration brought physical hardship, emotional strain and long hours of reflection that tested his endurance and resilience.

Zulu said the environment inside prison quickly removes the sense of normal life people are accustomed to. Daily routines become tightly controlled, personal space is limited and the uncertainty of life behind bars can weigh heavily on inmates. For him, the experience created a period of deep personal reflection about life, choices and the future.

“I’ve been through the worst in prison,” Zulu said while describing the experience that kept him away from family and ordinary life for months.

The former legislator said prison life forces individuals to confront realities that are often hidden from the public. According to him, incarceration is not simply about confinement but about adjusting to an entirely different environment where survival requires mental strength, patience and discipline.

Zulu explained that many inmates struggle to adapt to the harsh routines of prison life. Overcrowding, limited resources and the psychological pressure of confinement create an environment that tests individuals in ways that are difficult to fully describe to those who have never experienced it.

During his time in prison, Zulu said he witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by many ordinary inmates whose stories rarely receive public attention. He explained that many prisoners come from difficult backgrounds and must navigate prison life while coping with uncertainty about their families and futures.

Zulu said the experience opened his eyes to the realities of life within the correctional system and gave him a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by many people serving sentences.

The former MP explained that one of the most difficult aspects of incarceration was the emotional strain that comes from separation from family and loved ones. Being unable to live normal daily life with those closest to him created moments of loneliness that forced him to reflect deeply about what matters most.

He said support from family members and friends played a critical role in helping him remain strong during the difficult months. Messages of encouragement and prayers from people close to him provided reassurance that life continued outside the prison walls.

Zulu said those moments of support reminded him that prison, despite its hardships, represents only a chapter in life rather than the end of it.

Reflecting on the experience, Zulu said incarceration has permanently changed the way he views life and the choices he intends to make going forward. The former MP said prison taught him the value of freedom and the importance of focusing on what truly matters.

He explained that time behind bars gave him the opportunity to think carefully about his future and the direction he wants his life to take.

According to Zulu, the experience reinforced the importance of peace of mind and stability. The former lawmaker said that while prison was painful, it also became a moment that allowed him to reassess priorities and reflect on life beyond politics and public controversy.

Although he did not outline specific plans for the future, Zulu indicated that he now intends to focus on rebuilding his life after incarceration. He said the lessons learned during prison will guide him as he moves forward into the next stage of his life.

Zulu said prison forced him to develop resilience and patience, qualities he believes will help him navigate whatever challenges lie ahead.

Despite the hardships he endured, Zulu said he now looks toward the future with a renewed sense of perspective. He explained that surviving the experience strengthened his determination to move forward and rebuild his life with a clearer understanding of what truly matters.

For the former MP, prison was a difficult chapter filled with hardship and reflection, but he said it also became a moment that reshaped his understanding of life, freedom and the importance of focusing on the future.

Former Patriotic Front deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri has injected fresh intensity into the unresolved burial of former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu, delivering a pointed appeal to President Hakainde Hichilema that blended political pressure with a personal revelation about their relationship.

Phiri asserted that the connection between herself and the President extends beyond politics, stating that Hichilema is related to her through marriage and describing him publicly as her son-in-law. That disclosure gave her intervention unusual weight because it shifted the burial debate from a distant legal disagreement into a matter she framed as touching family honour, leadership responsibility and the historical memory of the nation.

Her message was delivered in unmistakably direct terms. Phiri urged Hichilema to act decisively to end the prolonged impasse surrounding the burial of the late president, arguing that the continued delay risks casting a long shadow over Zambia’s political legacy. She said the situation has reached a point where it cannot simply be treated as an administrative or legal dispute but has become a national question about how the country treats those who once held its highest office.

The former PF official argued that the burial dispute has stretched far beyond what many citizens consider acceptable. Nearly nine months after Lungu’s death, the country still lacks closure over the final resting place of the man who served as Zambia’s sixth Republican President. Phiri said that reality has unsettled many Zambians who expect former heads of state to be accorded prompt and dignified burials.

In her account, earlier plans to repatriate Lungu’s remains from South Africa had already been prepared by the family. She said logistical arrangements had been put in place, including securing an aircraft to transport the body. According to Phiri, those preparations began to unravel when conditions surrounding the repatriation were altered, creating uncertainty and mistrust around the process.

Phiri questioned several actions that she said contributed to the breakdown of those arrangements. Among them was the deployment of security personnel along routes where citizens traditionally gather to receive the remains of national leaders. She also criticised the introduction of invitation cards for people expected to attend events connected to the reception of the body, describing that practice as foreign to Zambia’s traditions of mourning former presidents.

To illustrate her point, Phiri recalled the funerals of Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata, when ordinary citizens were able to line the roads in large numbers to welcome their leaders’ remains home. Those events, she said, reflected a sense of national unity and shared respect for the office of the presidency.

By contrast, the circumstances surrounding Lungu’s burial have unfolded amid tension and unresolved disagreements. Phiri warned that the longer the matter continues, the greater the risk that it will become one of the most uncomfortable episodes in the country’s political history.

Her appeal to Hichilema carried both political and personal overtones. By invoking their family connection, Phiri framed the issue as one that transcends party rivalry. She argued that leadership is ultimately measured by the ability to rise above divisions and deliver decisions that restore dignity and closure to the nation.

Phiri suggested that the authority of the presidency provides the capacity to help bring the dispute to an end. She pointed to previous instances where presidential discretion had been exercised in complex national situations and said similar leadership could help resolve the burial issue.

The burial dispute formed the emotional centre of her remarks, but Phiri also used the moment to launch broader criticism of the government’s record. She questioned the performance of state institutions, challenged aspects of economic policy and expressed confidence that the political landscape could shift in the upcoming election.

Still, the unresolved fate of Edgar Lungu’s remains remained the dominant theme of her intervention. Phiri said the matter now carries implications not only for political leaders but for the country’s collective sense of respect and memory.

For her, the central question is simple yet powerful: how Zambia chooses to honour those who once led it. Phiri argued that the nation must ensure that its traditions of dignity are upheld, regardless of political differences.

Her appeal now adds a new layer to an already sensitive national conversation. By invoking family ties with the President while urging a resolution to the burial dispute, Phiri has placed the issue squarely within both the political arena and the personal realm of leadership responsibility.

Editors Note:

The prolonged burial dispute surrounding Edgar Lungu has become one of the most emotionally charged issues in Zambia’s current political climate, with calls for closure now intersecting with questions of leadership, legacy and national dignity.

Former Lumezi Member of Parliament Munir Zulu has been released from prison after completing his sentence and an additional 90 days, bringing to an end a period of incarceration that drew attention across political circles and social media.

Zulu’s release was confirmed by family spokesperson Chanoda Ngwira, who said the former lawmaker is now a free man and is in good health.

Ngwira said Zulu had reunited with his family following his release and is currently taking time to recover from the experience of imprisonment.

According to the family spokesperson, the former MP expressed appreciation for the support he received from family members, friends and supporters during the time he spent in prison.

Ngwira said many supporters reached out through social media to offer encouragement during the period of incarceration.

The family spokesperson said Zulu had asked that his gratitude be conveyed to those who stood by him.

Ngwira said the former lawmaker described the experience of imprisonment as a difficult period but remained grateful for the support he received.

According to the family, Zulu remains committed to contributing to national affairs through public advocacy.

Ngwira said the former MP indicated that he intends to continue speaking on national issues affecting the country and the people of Zambia.

The family spokesperson said Zulu plans to rest before making any public statements about his future plans.

Ngwira added that the former lawmaker will consult with family members before announcing his next steps.

The release of the former MP has drawn attention among supporters and political observers, particularly in Eastern Province, where Zulu previously served as Member of Parliament for Lumezi Constituency.

Family members also expressed gratitude to members of the public who supported the former lawmaker during his incarceration.

Ngwira said the encouragement received from supporters helped sustain the family during the period Zulu was serving his sentence.

Zulu himself also shared a short reflection following his release.

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease,” he said.

The message was interpreted by supporters as a sign of resilience following the completion of his prison term.

With his release now confirmed, Zulu returns to public life after completing the full period of imprisonment imposed by the court.