Federick Chiluba - Corruption Personified

Frederick Chiluba was born on the 30th of Aprilsupposed to be a good ambassador of his
1943 in Zambia and later rose to become thecountry, who swore on oath to uphold the
democratically elected president of the country inconstitution of his country and do all he could to
1991 under the Movement for Multipartyimprove the lot of the Zambia people.
Democracy, in a multiparty presidential electionChiluba was acquitted from the charges on 17th
after being a trade union leader.August 2009 after the death of Mwanawasa in
He succeeded President Kenneth Kaunda and got2008. The current President Rupiah Banda did not
re-elected in 1996 after a successful first tenureonly ensure that Fred Chiluba was acquitted, he
in office, but failed a third tenure bid in 2001. Hisalso refused to allow the state to appeal against
party rather preferred Levy Mwanawasa whothe verdict of the court. It only reminded one of
contested on their platform and won the election.the usual practice in Africa where leaders cover
The coming of Mwanawasa into power brought tothe sins of one another to keep their subjects
fore the shoddy deals of President Frederickperpetually in darkness.
Chiluba while in office. He was investigated forWhat legacy did Frederick Chiluba leave? He's said
corruption, arrested in 2003 and charged alongto have initiated a great economic reform for his
with his former intelligence chief, Xavier Chungu,country and also played the role of a mediator in
on 168 counts of theft totalling over $40m. Hisbringing to an end the protracted war in the
serving ministers and senior officials were alsoDemocratic republic of Congo, but all those
charged. His wife Regina was arrested forachievements have been overtaken by the
receiving stolen goods and for aiding her husband.corruption charges pressed against him.
On the 4th of May 2007 Chiluba was found guiltyHis friend Rupiah Banda was said to have been
of stealing $46m in a civil case by a Unitedendorsed for presidency by Chiluba so as to help
Kingdom court presided over by Peter Smith. Thecover up his corrupt profile and guarantee his
stolen money were said to have been transferredpersonal freedom. It's truly a case of a
to a London bank by the Zambian intelligencecorruption-prone leader coming to the timely aid
service. Later on Mwanawasa recovered nearlyof a corrupt friend to shield him from law and
$60m purportedly stolen by the man who wasjustice.