Eswatini’s Attorney General, Sifiso Khumalo, has been embroiled in a high-profile adultery case that first surfaced publicly around 2022 and continues to unfold in the courts in 2025. The case involves allegations that Khumalo engaged in extramarital affairs with married Zambian lawyer Nukwase Hilda Mwanza Chunga, whose husband, Shuko Willie Chunga, filed for divorce citing Khumalo and another man as co-respondents. This prolonged legal battle has attracted significant media attention and raised important questions about the personal conduct of public officials and its impact on public trust.

Hilda confessed to having sexual intercourse with the Khumalo in 2018, whom she met at a SADC meeting”, reads papers filed in court by Shuko.

The next court sitting for the adultery and divorce case involving Shuko Willie Chunga, Nukwase Hilda Mwanza Chunga, Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, and Edward Sampa is scheduled for July 15, 2025, at the High Court of Zambia, Principal Registry in Lusaka. This session is expected to hear testimonies from the parties involved and address outstanding motions related to the case.

Timeline and Court Rulings

  • March 31, 2025: High Court Judgment
    The High Court of Zambia, Principal Registry Lusaka, delivered a significant ruling in the case (2022/HPF/D053). The court addressed procedural and substantive matters, including the admissibility of electronic evidence such as audio and video recordings. The judgment clarified standards for evidence certification under the Electronic Transactions and Communications Act and ruled on motions related to the case’s progress.

  • Early 2025: Ongoing Hearings and Rulings
    The High Court continued to hear motions and examine evidence. The court made rulings on applications to strike out certain claims and on the authenticity of electronic communications presented by the parties, which were central to the adultery allegations.

  • 2024: Trial Hearings and Motion Decisions
    The High Court held multiple hearings to assess the merits of the adultery claims. It ruled on motions to amend pleadings and considered testimonies from the parties involved. The court also dealt with procedural issues arising from the complexity of the case.

  • 2023: Evidence Presentation and Preliminary Rulings
    During trial proceedings, the High Court admitted key evidence, including electronic messages, after establishing proper authentication. The court ruled on preliminary objections and allowed the case to proceed to full trial based on the evidence presented.

  • 2022: Filing of Divorce Petition
    Shuko Willie Chunga filed the divorce petition in the High Court of Zambia, naming Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo and Edward Sampa as co-respondents on grounds of adultery. The court registered the case and issued orders for service of the petition to the respondents, initiating the legal process.

    • The Married Couple Involved

      • Hilda Nukwase Chunga: A respected Zambian lawyer, she is at the center of the adultery allegations. Her professional career has been overshadowed by the scandal, which has sparked discussions about privacy and public scrutiny.

      • Shuko Willie Chunga: Hilda’s husband and the plaintiff in the lawsuit against Attorney General Khumalo. He alleges that Khumalo’s affair with his wife has caused irreparable damage to their marriage.

      The men involved

      Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo
      Sifiso Khumalo is a high-profile public official who has been implicated in the adultery case involving the married couple. While there is some confusion regarding his exact jurisdiction, reports indicate that he has been sued in Zambia for allegedly having an extramarital affair with married lawyer Hilda Nukwase Chunga. Khumalo’s involvement in this scandal has attracted significant public and media attention, raising questions about his conduct and the ethical standards expected of someone in his position. His alleged affair is central to the divorce proceedings initiated by Shuko Willie Chunga, Hilda’s husband.

      Edward Sampa
      Edward Sampa is the other man named as a co-respondent in the adultery suit filed by Shuko Willie Chunga. Like Khumalo, Sampa is accused of engaging in an extramarital relationship with Hilda Nukwase Chunga, contributing to the breakdown of her marriage. While less publicly prominent than Khumalo, Sampa’s involvement is significant in the legal proceedings and the allegations of adultery that underpin the divorce case.

      Together, Khumalo and Sampa are the two men alleged to have had extramarital affairs with Hilda Nukwase Chunga, leading to the ongoing divorce and adultery litigation in Zambia’s High Court.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR