Zambia’s High Court has issued an injunction that temporarily blocks authorities from arresting and prosecuting former President Frederick Chiluba, who stands accused of misusing public funds.
Chiluba applied for the injunction on Wednesday after lawmakers voted to revoke his immunity from criminal prosecution ? normally accorded to former heads of state – arguing that their action was unconstitutional.
Lusaka High Court judge Anthony Nyangulu ruled that Chiluba should retain his immunity until the country’s Supreme Court determined whether Parliament had acted lawfully.
President Levy Mwanawasa, who succeeded Chiluba in December, accused his predecessor of embezzling millions of dollars in an arms deal.
He said Chiluba approved a $100-million contract to buy arms from Congo and agreed on an initial payment of $20-million. But the weapons never arrived and the money disappeared.
Chiluba denied the allegations. He also denied claims that he gave relatives money from a London bank account used by Zambia’s Security and Intelligence Service.
In his court application, Chiluba argued that lawmakers should have given him the right to respond personally to allegations made against him, and said parliamentary procedures had been flouted.
The police have not said whether they planned to arrest Chiluba and the Supreme Court has yet to set a date to hear his case. – Sapa-AP