Former Zambian ambassador Martha Lungu Mwitumwa charged with treason
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Zambian Observer
Former Zambian ambassador to Switzerland Martha Lungu Mwitumwa has been charged with treason for allegedly attempting, according to police, to seize executive power by force. Aged 59, she is detained and is due to appear before a court, according to police spokesperson Chipo Kaitisha.
Former Zambian ambassador to Switzerland Martha Lungu Mwitumwa has been charged with treason for allegedly preparing with unidentified accomplices a plot to seize executive power by force. Zambian police accuse her of participating in the plot between November 2025 and 23 October 2026 in Lusaka, spokesperson Chipo Kaitisha said.
Martha Lungu Mwitumwa, 59, is also a former permanent representative of Zambia to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva and Vienna. She was arrested and charged under Section 43(1) of the Zambian Penal Code and remains in police custody pending her court appearance, according to Chipo Kaitisha.
Before her diplomatic career, Martha Lungu Mwitumwa notably headed state functions, protocol and public relations at the Office of the President, before serving as director of gender development at the Ministry of Gender from 2012 to 2017. She began her diplomatic mission in Switzerland in May 2019 after more than 30 years of service in the Zambian administration, according to Zambian police.
