Tasila Lungu, the daughter of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, has chosen to withdraw her defamation lawsuit against News Diggers Media Limited and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). The lawsuit was initiated in January 2020, following articles published by News Diggers and the EIA that alleged Tasila’s involvement in the smuggling of Mukula logs. Denying the accusations, Tasila filed the lawsuit seeking compensation for libel.
On June 13, 2023, Tasila’s legal representatives filed a notice of withdrawal with the Lusaka High Court. However, the notice did not provide any further explanation for the withdrawal, leaving the reason behind this decision undisclosed. As a result, the case has now been officially closed.
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to investigating environmental crimes, has been critical of the Zambian government’s handling of the Mukula smuggling case. Additionally, News Diggers Media Limited, a privately owned Zambian newspaper, has emerged as a prominent critic of former president Edgar Lungu.
Tasila Lungu’s withdrawal of the lawsuit marks a significant development in the ongoing Mukula smuggling case. The implications of this withdrawal on the progress of the scandal investigation remain uncertain. It suggests that Tasila Lungu is no longer willing to pursue the case, possibly due to various factors such as the limited likelihood of success or the personal strain it was causing her.
This decision comes just before the trial was set to continue on the 25th and 26th of next month. It follows Lubinda’s intense cross-examination, during which he admitted to receiving money from a Chinese company while serving as a minister, failing to pay taxes to ZRA, and using a non-existent property to secure a loan. The trial proceedings have been closely scrutinised.