ZAMBIA Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) submitted to the Lusaka High Court that allowing former president Edgar Lungu and former first lady Esther Lungu to bypass the Archway metal detector without undergoing full airport screening constituted a serious security breach.
In a defence filed before court, ZACL argued that the screening procedures in place at the time did not exempt the former first lady and, contrary to the plaintiff’s claim, did not exempt the former president under the amended Cap 7, section 7.5 of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme.
The corporation was responding to a lawsuit filed by Mr Paul Kasonde, its former Aviation Security Manager, who was dismissed on February 10, 2025, for allegedly failing to report the bypass incident at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) on January 19, 2025.
According to ZACL’s submission, Mr Kasonde was charged with dereliction of duty for failing to report an irregularity involving the unauthorised clearance of the former first couple.
The corporation contended that established screening protocols were violated when Mr and Ms Lungu were permitted to bypass the Archway metal detector without justification or proper documentation.
“The defendant avers that the plaintiff was charged and later dismissed for failing to report an irregularity to his superiors regarding a security breach.
This breach occurred on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at KKIA, where former president Edgar Lungu and former first lady Esther Lungu were allowed to bypass the Archway metal detector without undergoing comprehensive airport screening procedures,” the corporation stated in its defence.
ZACL also stated that while Mr Kasonde’s employment contract had been renewed in February 2024 to run until February 2027, his dismissal followed due process.
The decision was upheld on appeal by the company’s disciplinary committee, which found that Mr Kasonde had failed to fulfil his obligation to report irregularities or malpractice involving staff or VIPs.
The corporation stressed that a report on the incident had been filed by the Airport Manager, not Mr Kasonde, further underscoring his alleged failure to act.
In his lawsuit, Mr Kasonde, represented by Kayula & Associates, argued that his dismissal was wrongful.
In his statement of claim, he argued that former president Lungu was exempted from the Archway screening under the Airport VIP Facilitation Procedures in place at the time.
He insisted that the incident did not amount to a breach warranting disciplinary action.
In a letter of demand, Mr Kasonde asked for K5.5 million in compensation from ZACL, comprising K3 million for the estimated value of his remaining contract period and K2.5 million in damages.
ZACL has asked the court to dismiss the case with costs, insisting that Mr Kasonde’s dismissal was lawful and in line with the company’s Grievance Procedure and Disciplinary Code of 2022.
