IT’S EASY TO FIND FLATS OWNER – DEC

DRUG Enforcement Commission (DEC) director general Mary Chirwa says they are yet to establish if the 15 double storey houses in Lusaka’s State Lodge area belong to former first lady Esther Lungu.

Responding to a query from The Mast, Chirwa however said Zesco pre-paid metres of the houses show that Esther Nyawa Tembo is the owner.

At the latest University of Zambia’s School of Education graduation ceremony held at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Esther was among graduates. And the former first lady’s name was clearly announced as Esther Nyawa Tembo, what is believed to be her maiden name.

DEC on Friday took possession of newly built and fully completed 15 double storey houses in a complex in State Lodge area, east of Lusaka.

DEC public relations officer Mathias Kamanga said the action followed a tip from members of the public.

He said the law enforcement agency had been monitoring the housing complex but that there has been no-one seen entering the premises.

“We don’t want to accuse anyone yet but our investigations point to an Esther Nyawa Tembo as being the owner of the houses,” said Kamanga.

“As DEC we have taken possession which is different from seizure because there was no-one, not even a caretaker.”

And Chirwa said it was only Zesco prepaid metres that could confirm that the owner of the property was Esther Nyawa Tembo.

“This is an ongoing investigation; hence we haven’t arrested anyone yet. The place has been abandoned. [Ministry of] Lands and [Lusaka City] Council have no record on that property. In fact, at lands planning, it shows that it’s bare land which remained after the subdivision of F/11031. It’s only Zesco that can confirm now, as Zesco records on prepaid metres showed that they were registered under those names (Esther Nyawa Tembo),” explained Chirwa. “We had no ways of proving that it was the [former] first lady until we do further verifications, and that’s why we said we are yet to establish which Esther this is, which is very easy. As per lands records, it’s a nonexistent property.”

Asked how possible it was that the system was indicating that the property in question and the land where it sat was non-existent when they were physical properties, former lands minister Jean Kapata said she would comment on the matter this Wednesday.

“I will comment on it on Wednesday,” said Kapata.