Zambia's probe of ex-leader 'a political ploy'
2013-02-07 09:06
Johannesburg - A bid by Zambia's government to bring
ex-president Rupiah Banda before an anti-corruption panel is a ploy to divert
attention from the government's own failings, Banda's lawyer claimed on Wednesday.
The former president has been summoned to answer questions
from a team of graft investigators on Thursday.
But his lawyer Robert Amsterdam dubbed the investigation
"bogus".
"This is a plot by the government to attack Mr Banda
and deflect attention from the corruption investigation" launched by
Banda's successor Michael Sata into a number of high-profile members of the
former administration, Amsterdam told AFP.
Banda bowed out of power after losing elections to Sata in
2011, in what was hailed as an example of smooth multiple multi-party
transitions in southern Africa.
Sata's government has since arrested a number of opponents,
raising fears the country is sliding toward authoritarianism.
Opposition leaders and former ministers have been arrested
in recent months for an array of offences said to have been committed while
they were in office.
Legal action
"This is simply an attempt to do to the former
president what they have done to the members of the opposition," Amsterdam
added.
"They are attempting to attack every possible
politician who could potentially, in their view... present a risk to the
Patriotic Front because they have done such a terrible job."
On Tuesday another of Banda's lawyers, Sakwiba Sikota, said
his client would not appear before the panel because he enjoys presidential
immunity for any offences committed during his time in office.
But the head of Zambia's anti-corruption commission, Rosewin
Wandi, said Banda was wanted to answer charges into "allegations of
corruption and other criminal activities" in which he had been named.
Amsterdam indicated that Banda might take legal action
against the government as early as next week, but refused to give details.
