Zambia’s President Levy Mwanawasa on Friday said he could drop corruption charges against his predecessor Frederick Chiluba if the former leader returned about 75% of what he allegedly stole.
Mwanawasa told visiting Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in front of journalists that he had already extended an ”olive branch” to Chiluba to return three-quarters of the ill-gotten wealth but he had not yet received any response.
”I may use my discretion to drop the charges against him if he brings back about 75% of what he stole,” he said.
Chiluba (61), is facing a raft of charges including the theft of $41-million from the state during his tenure as president of the poor southern African country from 1991 to 2001.
Mwanawasa described Chiluba as his elder brother to whom he had been very close for many years.
Diplomatic sources in the Zambian capital Lusaka said Obasanjo’s visit, officially described as talks with his Zambian counterpart on bilateral, African and international issues, was aimed at finding a solution to the strained relationship between Chiluba and Mwanawasa.
Obasanjo told Mwanawasa to concentrate in bringing in stolen funds to the exchequer instead of jailing people for corruption, adding that he had only managed to recover about $1-billion stolen by a former regime in Nigeria.
Nigeria is seen as the world’s second most corrupt nation according to a graft watchdog.
”The aim is not to jail corrupt men and women but to recover and fill the treasury with what you want. In this area, we have some experience,” Obasanjo said.
The Nigerian leader later held closed-door talks with Chiluba and Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda at their homes before returning for talks with Mwanawasa. — Sapa-AFP