Zambia’s graft-tainted former president Frederick Chiluba is in intensive care at a Johannesburg hospital for a heart ailment and is in no position to face trial, his spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Chiluba arrived in South Africa on Friday and after undergoing ”comprehensive medical tests on Friday and Monday” was admitted into Johannesburg’s Garden City Clinic, Emmanuel Mwamba said.
”He’s being treated for his cardiac condition and is in the intensive care unit [ICU],” Mwamba said. ”He’s responding well to treatment and is in high spirits.”
A spokesperson for the hospital, however, said she could not confirm if Chiluba had been admitted, saying: ”To the best of my knowledge he is not here, I’ll have to look into it.”
Mwamba said doctors treating the embattled former leader, on trial for corruption and theft of public funds during his decade-long stint in power until 2001, had to obtain government permission to travel to South Africa for treatment.
Zambia had stopped Chiluba from seeking medical treatment in South Africa, arguing that his heart problem could be treated locally, but President Levy Mwanawasa used his discretion to allow his predecessor to travel.
The corruption case against Chiluba has been repeatedly delayed due to an acute heart condition.
Mwamba said Chiluba was in no condition to face trial, according to doctors.
”His heart condition has been going on for nine months. He has to stay in the ICU for some more time and then they want him to remain in South Africa for a month to monitor him after he is discharged.”
”His condition is chronic and long-term and he is not medically fit to stand trial.” — Sapa-AFP