Police in Zambia have arrested seven prominent figures linked to former president Frederick Chiluba on corruption charges, police said on Thursday.
The seven, who include one senior official still serving in the government, have been arrested and jointly charged with 59 counts of corruption, police said.
David Diangamo, a secretary in the country’s treasury, was arrested late on Wednesday for abuse of office and theft of public funds during the time he served under Chiluba’s government, said police representative Brenda Muntemba.
A taskforce formed by President Levy Mwanawasa to investigate the plunder of national resources during Chiluba’s time in power, which ended in 2001, has also arrested the managing director of the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB) Samuel Musonda for the same offence.
”They are detained in custody and are likely to appear in court today,” Muntemba said.
The taskforce has slapped further charges on former intelligence chief, Xavier Chungu who has been in jail for several months on similar charges, Muntemba said.
Others arrested on Wednesday include former deputy director of intelligence, Yotham Zulu; former deputy managing director of ZNCB, George Mwambazi; ex-secretary to the treasury James Mtonga and ex-government chief economist, Bede Mphande.
The arrests came days after Mwanawasa expressed his concern that the taskforce was taking its time in arresting and prosecuting those accused of plundering national resources.
Mwanawasa has made the fight against corruption a cornerstone of his government’s policy. – Sapa-AFP