Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has directed his government to immediately send his corruption-tainted predecessor Frederick Chiluba for cardiac treatment in South Africa, Chiluba’s spokesperson said on Monday.
Mwanawasa authorised Chiluba to travel for treatment after his doctors said his cardiac condition had deteriorated to a point where a heart transplant is now being considered, Chiluba’s aide Emmanuel Mwamba told the media.
Chiluba had written a personal letter to Mwanawasa asking him to intervene in the matter after government officials initially refused to allow him to travel abroad, saying his condition could be treated locally.
”President Mwanawasa has responded. He has directed that Chiluba be evacuated for treatment,” Mwamba said, adding that the ex-leader received his copy of the letter on Sunday.
Chiluba, who is on trial for corruption and theft of public funds, is suffering from an acute heart complication that has confined him to bed and contributed to the delay in court proceedings.
”We are now waiting for [the] government to inform us on the arrangements for his travel, which is long overdue,” Mwamba said.
The government on Monday withdrew its application in the Magistrate’s Court, which was intended to block Chiluba from travelling by saying his condition could be treated locally.
”The prosecution has also withdrawn the application, which they filed last week, on Chiluba’s medical condition,” Mwamba said.
Chiluba, who ruled Zambia from 1991 to 2001 when he retired, is facing charges of corruption together with several of his cronies after state funds were allegedly siphoned out of the country during his tenure.
The government imposed a travel restriction on Chiluba after his close associate and former intelligence chief Xavier Chungu disappeared from Zambia shortly after being arrested for corruption. — Sapa-AFP