Acquitted Chiluba demand his immunity

By John Chola - 19/08/09

Acquitted former president of Zambia Fredrick Chiluba is demanding for a special session of parliament to be convened to restore his immunity.

Chiluba’s lawyers yesterday wrote to Speaker of the national assembly stating that

Chiluba’s immunity is not infinity.

Chiluba’s is contending that the stripping of the immunity was just to enable investigation and prosecution into the allegations of plunder as laid down by late President of Zambia Levy Mwanawasa.

He says that since the courts have cleared Chiluba, the same parliament which stripped him should now cover him with legal protection.

Chiluba is afraid that he remains without immunity any aggrieved person can sue him in his personal capacity for wrongs he may have committed during his 10-year rule.

But MPs from two major opposition political parties say they will resist the restoration of Chiluba’s immunity.

Some opposition MPs say Chiluba does not deserve to be protected by parliament.

The MPs say it will be a direct insult on late Levy Mwanawasa for them to go and try to protect Chiluba from alleged crimes.

A Lusaka magistrate on Monday acquitted Chiluba of allegations that he stole US$500,000 public funds while serving as Zambia’s President............

Meanwhile the Task Force on corruption which took former president of Zambia Fredrick Chiluba to court says it will not hand back his shoes and suits which they grabbed from him.

The Task Force grabbed Chiluba;s shoes and designer suits when it just started probing him for alleged stealing of public money.

Chiluba was acquitted of all charges on Monday.

The chairperson of the Task Force has said that they will hold on to Chiluba’s personal clothes and restrict his other properties despite the judgment that cleared him.

The task force will only decide whether to give back or not Chiluba’s clothes after the registration of the London Judgment that find Chiluba liable.

Chiluba is currently fighting that the Zambian High court should not recognise the London judgment.

He says the London judgment encroaches on the independence of the Zambian judiciary.

Meanwhile the Task Force is still consulting its lawyers on whether to appeal against the judgment that cleared Chiluba

Chiluba owned more than 100 pairs of size 6 shoes, many affixed with his initials in brass.

Each pair has heels close to two inches high

Ends.