FORMER United Party for National Development (UPND) special assistant to the president Edward Mumbi has been detained in connection with alleged criminal activities.

Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela who confirmed the development in an interview yesterday said Mr Mumbi was detained on Monday for alleged involvement in criminal activities.

"We detained him yesterday (Monday) evening in connection with criminal activities. We called him for questioning and gathered enough evidence to warrant his detention," she said.

Ms Kanjela said Mr Mumbi was still detained but refused to mention where he was being held.

One of the lawyers representing Mr Mumbi, Sunday Nkonde said he did not know why his client was being held.

Mr Nkonde said he did not know where Mr Mumbi was being held.

"It's only the police who know why they are keeping him. They have not told us where they took him," Mr Nkonde said.

But sources said Mr Mumbi was picked up from Hotel Inter-Continental in Lusaka and was whisked to Police Service Headquarters before being detained at Woodlands police station.

Sources said he was being investigated for allegedly acquiring property suspected to be from proceeds of crime.

Mr Mumbi was once Patriotic Front Secretary General before he resigned to join MMD where he was in the campaign team last year.

He quit after MMD's heavy defeat and joined UPND.