Ex-manager seeks justice after Lungu airport clearance sparks dismissal
Paul Kasonde says ex-president was formally exempted
Former Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) manager Paul Kasonde has sued his former employer for what he describes as unfair and wrongful dismissal after former president Edgar Lungu was cleared at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) without passing through an Arch-Way Metal Detector.
Mr. Kasonde, who served as Manager for Aviation Security (AVSEC), is demanding damages for mental distress, outstanding salaries, and allowances after being dismissed on February 10, 2025—just one year into his three-year renewable contract.
According to court documents, the controversial incident took place on Sunday, January 19, 2025, when President Lungu was cleared by security staff without undergoing full screening at the airport. The move was allegedly flagged as a security breach by ZACL, prompting disciplinary action against Kasonde.
However, Kasonde has rejected the security breach narrative, insisting that existing procedures at the time exempted the former president from undergoing such screening.
“The fact that the former president did not pass through the Arch-Way Metal Detector did not constitute a breach,” he states.
He further argues that Edgar Lungu had previously passed through KKIA on several occasions without being screened, and his facilitation had never drawn reprimand from the corporation.
“The VIP procedure in place at the time made it clear that the former president was formally exempt from standard airport screening,” he added.
Mr. Kasonde also revealed that the VIP facilitation on the day was handled in conjunction with officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Zambia Police Protocol, none of whom have been sanctioned.
“If the process was truly irregular, the other state security officers should have been penalized too—but they weren’t.”
Kasonde laments that no other airport officials who were present during the facilitation faced disciplinary action, which he says points to selective application of justice within the corporation.
He adds that the dismissal has effectively destroyed his career, saying he now faces immense difficulty securing employment in the aviation sector due to the stigma attached to his termination.
“I am at the prime of my career, in a highly specialized aviation security profession. This unjust dismissal has pushed me into destitution,” he told the court.
Kasonde is now demanding compensation for the trauma, reputational damage, and financial losses he has suffered since being fired.
He also accuses ZACL of denying his appeal unjustly, despite the lack of evidence supporting claims of a security breach or negligence.
This case adds another twist to the ongoing tension surrounding the treatment of former President Lungu in public and state spaces. Earlier this year, Lungu was reportedly blocked from traveling to South Korea to attend a peace summit, prompting public outcry and a legal challenge.
