Fiery Zambian opposition leader held
2013-01-09 07:39
Lusaka - Authorities arrested outspoken Zambian opposition
leader Nevers Mumba on Tuesday for graft allegedly committed more than two
years ago when he was the country's ambassador to Canada.
Anti-corruption task force spokesperson Namukolo Kasumpa
announced the arrest after Mumba, accompanied by dozens of his Movement for
Multi-Party Democracy supporters, was led to the cells at a Lusaka police
station.
Leader of the largest faction of the former ruling party,
Mumba was Zambia's envoy to Canada between 2009 and 2011. His party lost power
to President Michael Sata's Patriotic Front in 2011.
He is accused of awarding Can $34 000 worth of
contracts for the renovation of the ambassador's house without following proper
procedure.
He is also alleged to have failed to comply with systems
when he received and disbursed a donation of more than Can $122 000, given to
the Zambian government by the world's gold leader Barrick Gold Corporation.
He will appear in court on Wednesday.
Just before police whisked him away, Mumba lashed at the
government for intimidating the opposition instead of tackling the country's
woes.
"This country has many problems. The president is
sleeping when the country is going down, mealie meal prices have gone up,"
he said.
Some party female lawmakers and supporters shed tears and
threatened to undress to protest his arrest.
It is the third time Mumba was arrested in recent weeks.
Late last year, he was locked up for unlawful assembly when he met traditional
leaders.
He was also arrested for statements police said were likely
to breach the peace, when he claimed the ruling party was planning to
destabilise the opposition.
- SAPA
