Former State House Economics Advisor Arrested for Corruption

The Anti- Corruption Commission has arrested and charged former Special Assistant for Economics to the former Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu for possession of property valued at over K41million and cash amounting to over US $238,900. The properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Hibeene Mwiinga, 60, of Hichikey Farm, Mwembeshi has been charged with 23 counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
The properties include a house in Kingsland City which he purchased for cash at US Dollars 600,000 and five houses in Silverest Gardens all valued at K4,383,144. Other properties include a double storey flat in NAPSA Housing Complex in Ibex Hill valued at K1,520,000; and two (2) properties in Chililabombwe valued at K2,140,000. Mr Mwiinga is also in possession of 7 motor vehicles which include Mercedes Benz car, Jeep Cherokee, an Isuzu D-Max, a FAW Truck and two trailers, all valued at K1,466,478.68. Further, between January 2015 and January 2021, Mr Mwiinga was in possession of a total of US Dollars 238, 924.00 in his bank accounts.
Mwiinga’s wife Mercy Munsanje Mwenda and his son Hakaantu Mwiinga have also been arrested and charged with possession of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Mercy Munsanje Mwenda, 56, has been arrested and charged with two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of the forfeiture of proceeds of crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. Properties include 11 eleven vehicles which include an Isuzu D-Max, two Hino Trucks, a Mercedes Benz car; a Dyna Truck and a Toyota Alphard, all valued at K1,251,660.59. Mercy is also in possession of a property in Salama Park valued at USD 20,750.00.
Hakaantu Mwiinga , 32, of house number 22 Salama Park, has been arrested and charge with two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of the forfeiture of proceeds of crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. The properties include 9 vehicles which include; a Dodge Nitro; a DAF Trailer; a Van Hool Trailer; a Volvo, and a Nissan Navara; all valued at K680, 900. Hakaantu is also in possession of a property in Silverest Garden valued at USD 50,000.
In addition, the trio have been jointly arrested and charged with 17 counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of the forfeiture of proceeds of crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia. The properties came into their possession between January 2015 and January 2021, and include cash deposits in a company account amounting to K7,516, 943.27; twenty seven motor vehicles valued at K4,026, 525.27 and a farm in Mwembeshi in the name of Hechikay Farms valued at K12, 4000, 000. The farm which was acquired much earlier was, however, developed between the same period.
There are a total of 54 properties that have been linked to Mwiinga, his wife and son that are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of crime between 2015 and 2021. The trio are expected to appear before Court on 31st August 2022.