Give Maria a break please–Zaloumis
…says family, urges calm and fairness
By Staff Reporter
24.08.25
KABWE —Ms. Maria Zaloumis popularly known across Zambia’s social media landscape as the “ZEDFARMER,” is facing intense public scrutiny following her arrest in connection with the death of a man who allegedly entered her farm premises in Munyama, Central Province, last week without permission.
The 40-year-old agricultural entrepreneur, celebrated for revolutionizing farming among young female Zambians, remains in police custody as investigations continue in Kabwe.
The deceased, whose identity has been released by police reportedly sustained fatal injuries to the head and body after allegedly attempting to attack Zaloumis with acid.
The incident that occurred last week, and has since sparked a flurry of speculation online, prompting the Zaloumis family to issue a public appeal for “restraint and due process.”
Speaking on behalf of the family, Zaloumis older sister, In’utu Zaloumis—a prominent Lusaka-based entrepreneur—called for Zambians to allow the law to take its course before passing judgment.
“On behalf of the family, my sister Maria and our mother SC Mwangala Zaloumis I am calling onto fellow Zambians to allow the police to fully investigate this matter before judgment is passed onto her,” Inutu said in a statement. “The country needs to hear my sister’s side of the story regarding this unfortunate incident… In Zambia, we work on the presumption of innocence till proven guilty—not the other way round.”
In’utu expressed concern over the treatment of her sister, who she says is being portrayed unfairly in the media and online discourse regarding this matter.
“Maria has three children—aged 15, five, and the youngest just one year old—currently alone at home, away from their mother who remains in custody until she appears in court,” she said. “She is being treated like a house child when she is an adult turning 41 this year, with her own house, her own farming business, and her own children.”
The media attacks, innuendos and insults ought to slow down according to In’utu .
The Zaloumis family also appealed to the public to separate Maria’s personal circumstances from those of their mother, SC Mwangala Zaloumi’s, a respected public servant at the helm of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
“My baby sister is not my mother and my mother is she employed by an independent electoral commission far removed from the private life of Maria,” In’utu emphasized. “She does not live with our mother—just like I don’t. We are all adults. So I think it’s malicious and unethical to link Maria to mothers work . It is not fair, even during an emotionally charged time like now when someone has been reported dead.”
The family acknowledged the grief of the deceased’s relatives and urged the public to allow both sides space to process the tragedy including the due court process.
“The grieving family of the named person who walked onto Maria’s farm premises allegedly with plans of attacking her must also be allowed space to mourn respectfully while the police conduct a thorough probe,” In’utu said.
Maria Zaloumi’s, known as ZEDFARMER, rose to national prominence in her early thirties (34) by transforming tomato farming into a vibrant, youth-driven enterprise.
She got to be known as the DIVA of the Zambia soil, a celebrated young woman who grew things, booming her to more than 400,000 instant followers in Facebook, bigger than some newspapers in Zambia due to the ‘romantic’ approach she used.
Her viral posts showing glamorous yet gritty scenes of farm life made agriculture “sexy” in Zambia, inspiring thousands of young people to consider farming as a viable career path. She later expanded into maize production, supplying tonnes to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) annually.
“Maria does not fear getting her hands dirty,” Ingutu said. “Let’s remember that before we crucify her ahead of even a trial via malicious speculation—some of the more harmful ones currently being looked at by the family lawyers.”
By 5 p.m. on the day of her arrest, Maria was still being questioned by police in , Kabwe having been taken without resistance from her farm located approximately 27 kilometres south of Kabwe en route to Lusaka. The family confirmed she is cooperating fully with authorities, though formal charges have yet to be announced.
Ingutu concluded her statement by celebrating her sister’s legacy and urging Zambians to uphold fairness and compassion.
“Maria revolutionized agriculture and made it romantic to till the land rather than seek a clerking job when land abounds in Zambia,” she said. “Let us give the police time to investigate, charge, and take the matter to court. Let us not confuse the difference between Maria and her mother—she is an adult and a mother. Her actions do not get blessed by her mother.”
As the investigation unfolds, the Zaloumi’s family remains hopeful that truth and justice will prevail, and that the legacy of ZEDFARMER will not be overshadowed by speculation but remembered for the seeds of change she planted across Zambia’s agricultural landscape.
“Let’s remember that this matter is not concluded it is under probe, we should consider this seriously,” said Ingutu.
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Source: Ingutu Zaloumi’s, family spokesperson in Kabwe.
Sad. Sad to find all of a sudden you have to deal with a murder case in your life. You get detained without bail, and everything changes. For sure there was no intention to kill, or to cause death. Those who kill by intention do not video tape themselves. It was more an accident. Sad. But Zaloumis can expect a fair process in court. This is upnd government, not PF.