In September 2021, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) uncovered a significant illegal logging and laundering scheme involving mukula timber in Zambia. The investigation revealed that over 10,000 mukula trees were illegally felled, exploiting land allocated to people with disabilities. The Zambia Agency For Persons With Disabilities (ZAPD), the Ministry of Community and Social Services, the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, and the office of the vice president were implicated. The scheme began in 2017 when land was allocated under the guise of empowering disabled individuals through farming. However, the land was used to harvest and launder mukula timber, with cutting permits repeatedly misused. The logs were stockpiled and transported by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and a well-known logistics company. The profits did not benefit the intended disabled individuals but rather a small, well-connected elite. The investigation highlighted a revenue loss of approximately US$214 million due to unaccounted timber exports to China. The election of President Hakainde Hichilema brings hope for addressing this systemic corruption.