POLICE spokesperson Esther Katongo says police are still waiting for Faith Musonda to avail herself and justify the source of the K65,330,000 and US$57,000 cash which was recovered from her house in Lusaka’s New Kasama area.

And The Zambia Development Agency says Musonda is no longer an employee of the Agency following her resignation on June 17, 2020.

In an interview, Katongo said if Musonda failed to avail herself to the police for questioning, the courts of law would decide on a way forward.

“What it is is that when some property is seized and it is believed to have been stolen, the owner is supposed to show up and justify the source of the money. So all I can say is we are still waiting for the owner to come and justify the source of the money. I do not know [when she will come] but of course maybe she is aware because information is everywhere and that house belongs to the same so we will wait for the owner to come. The investigators are in a position but we cannot be discussing procedures or processes of investigations,” said Katongo.

“So the owner should avail themselves. That is why we are saying that property is suspected to have been stolen or illegally obtained so the onus is upon the owner to come and justify the source, that is all. We are still waiting for the owners to avail themselves so that they justify. If police will see that there is nothing sinister or what, procedure will be followed into the courts of law to return the money back to the owner, that is if they convince the investigators on the source of the money. The court will decide.”

Meanwhile, in a statement, Sunday, the Zambia Development Agency said Musonda resigned last year.

“The Board and Management of the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) wish to inform the public that Ms Faith Musonda is no longer an employee of the Agency. Ms Musonda who served as Communication and Public Relations Manager of ZDA joined the Agency on December 17th, 2018 and separated from the Agency June 17th, 2020 following her resignation,” the statement read.

Police in Lusaka recovered K65,330,000 cash and over US$57,000 suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained from Musonda’s house.

“Police in Lusaka have recovered K65,330,000 suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained from a house in Lusaka’s new Kasama area. The money was recovered in an operation conducted yesterday 17th September, 2021 after a tip off from members of the public. During the search, police discovered 30 travelling bags containing Zambian Kwacha notes. Bank of Zambia was engaged and counted the money in the presence of caretakers as the alleged owner Faith Musonda is reported to have run away from the house. A further search was conducted and the team discovered a safe containing USD57, 350 which was later seized and handed over to Bank of Zambia for safe keeping and further investigations. A manhunt for the suspect has been launched,” stated Katongo on Saturday.