Zambia govt grounds Chiluba

2005-10-08 13:03

Lusaka - The Zambian government has refused to allow corruption-tainted former president Frederick Chiluba to leave the country to attend a meeting of former heads of state in Nigeria, an aide said on Saturday.

Chiluba is among several former African leaders who have been invited by Nigerian President Olusegan Obasanjo to the conference scheduled to begin next week, Chiluba spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba said.

"The government has refused to grant him permission to leave the country," Mwamba said.

Chiluba's passport has been confiscated as part of a bail condition after he was accused of pocketing $488 000 in state funds when he was head of state in this Southern African country between 1991 to 2001.

He had asked his lawyers to apply for a court order to return his passport so he could attend the conference in Nigeria but the request was denied after the government objected.

"We had assured the government that he will return back home immediately after the conference but they declined to sanction his trip," Mwamba said.

Last year the government blocked Chiluba from receiving medical treatment in Britain, saying he might try to flee several corruption charges in Zambia.

Two of Chiluba's key co-accused, former intelligence chief Xavier Chungu and Zambia's ex-ambassador to the United States, fled the country after they were charged with corruption. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA