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Zambian govt's $2.7bn missing
04/12/2007 09:31 - (SA)
Lusaka - Zambia's ex-leader Frederick Chiluba on Monday said President Levy Mwanawasa's government should be made to account for $2.7bn alleged to be missing from state coffers.
Chiluba, himself accused of theft of public funds, said corruption in Zambia had reached unprecedented levels and described the government's fight against graft as a sham in light of the missing funds.
"I want to break my silence now ... I have kept quiet for too long," said Chiluba, who had maintained a low profile since being charged with two others with stealing about $500 000 of government money when he ruled Zambia from 1991 to 2001.
Chiluba said: "Corruption has deeply permeated all ranks and organs of the government."
He said the auditor-general's report released last week showed that $2.7bn had gone missing under the government of Mwanawasa, far less than what he was alleged to have stolen in 10 years.
Chiluba said: "If government had been prudent in public resource management, it would not have lost $2.7bn."
Mwanawasa, current head of the regional Southern Africa Development Community, had recently came under attack by opposition and civil society groups who had accused him of failing to stamp out corruption in government.
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