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Chiluba: No wife, no SA trip
28/11/2006 18:47 - (SA)
Lusaka - Zambia's ex-leader Frederick Chiluba blamed authorities on Tuesday of unjustly preventing his wife from accompanying him for medical care in South Africa (SA) and vowed not to travel without her.
Chiluba's bid to seek specialist care for a heart ailment has been entangled with a dispute with his successor, Levy Mwanawasa, and corruption charges against the former president.
His wife, Regina, is facing a separate graft case in court.
Chiluba, speaking through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, accused Mwanawasa of "promoting an unnecessary stand-off" by barring his wife from accompanying him.
Mwanawasa said on Monday that he had reversed his decision to block Chiluba from travelling, but insisted the former leader turn over his passport to Zambia's embassy in Pretoria on arrival in SA.
He said he had barred Chiluba's wife from accompanying her husband because of her own trial on charges of obtaining funds and property stolen from the treasury.
Mwanawasa accused of a political witch-hunt
"Dr Chiluba is not going to SA without his wife and he is asking the president to set aside the conditions he has prescribed," said Mwamba.
There was no immediate comment from Mwanawasa's office.
"Dr Chiluba feels Mr Mwanawasa is showing unnecessary aggression and ill-feeling by saying he should go without his wife," said Mwamba.
Mwamba said Chiluba's wife, who was due in court for trial on December 17, planned to be back in time to attend the hearing.
Chiluba has been charged with stealing $488 000 in public funds while in office from 1991-2001. He denies wrongdoing and has accused Mwanawasa of a political witch-hunt.
Authorities last week prevented Chiluba from travelling to SA amid fears he might not return to Zambia for the conclusion of his corruption trial.
He then accused the state of seeking to quicken his death by denying him specialist treatment.
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