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Anti-Corruption Group Demands Zambia Recover Funds from Former President

   Peter Clottey 22 August 2010

   The chairman of Transparency International (TI) in Zambia told VOA the
   decision  by  the  government not to appeal the ruling clearing former
   President  Frederick  Chiluba  of  corruption  was  based on political
   considerations.

   Reuben  Lifuka said his anti-graft organization would continue putting
   more  pressure  on  the  government by demanding that President Rupiah
   Bandaâs  administration  seek to recover the funds allegedly stolen by
   the former president.

   âWe  find  it amazing that government has quickly stated that they are
   not  going  to  appeal, when the judgmentâs validity was not tested in
   this particular case,â he said.

   Zambia's former President Frederick Chiluba

   Zambiaâs  High  Court  recently  ruled that the countryâs laws did not
   allow  the enforcement of judgments made in other countries. This came
   after  a British judge ruled in 2007 that former President Chiluba pay
   $58-million  as  compensation  for funds stolen while he was leader of
   Zambia from 1991-2001.

   Mr. Chiluba denies the corruption charges and has rejected the British
   judgeâs ruling as without merit.

   Supporters  of  the  former president say the charges were politically
   motivated  after  his fall-out with successor, the late President Levy
   Mwanawasa, who died in 2008.

   Observers  say  the  governmentâs  decision  not to appeal the courtâs
   ruling  is  an  attempt to appease the supporters of the former leader
   ahead of next yearâs general election.

   Analysts say former President Chiluba is still popular adding that the
   decision not to appeal the ruling could boost the chances of incumbent
   President Banda in the general election.

   TIâs  Chairman  Lifuka said the governmentâs decision was not based on
   sound legal reasons.

   âEvery  indication  does show that there is more of a political reason
   than  legal  because  it  started  with  the  acquittal  of the former
   president  in  the  court  of  law  for criminal offenses of a similar
   nature,  as  decided  upon  by  the  London  High  Court.  We  saw the
   dismantling,  or  disbanding,  of  the task force. And, the task force
   activities  have  been swallowed up by the anti-corruption commission.
   And now, this is the latest setback that we have seen,â Lifuka said.

   Meanwhile,  the  United States has questioned the Zambian governmentâs
   commitment to rooting out corruption.

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