Transparency
International Zambia (TIZ) says the acquittal of former president Chiluba is
a blow to the ordinary Zambians and the fight against corruption.
And PF
leader Michael Sata has said president Banda does not believe in what his
predecessor was doing.
He said Levy Mwanawasa's widow Maureen has ably
reminded the people of Zambia that Mwanawasa never condoned
corruption.
Mrs. Mwanawasa said during the day that late Mwanawasa never
associated with corrupt people even members of his family.
She said
Zambians should remember Mwanawasa by abhorring corruption.
Transparency
international Zambia president Reuben Lifuka said in a statement that the former
president's acquittal is a severe blow to several people and organizations in
Zambia and across the world, that closely followed the case.
Mr Lifuka
said the acquittal of Chiluba is a setback for the fight against corruption in
Zambia and that it equally negates all that the late president Levy Mwanawasa
fought for.
He added that the verdict of the magistrate has put paid to
the serious allegation made by the late president to parliament and confirms
that African leaders are not ready to be accountable for their
actions.
He says African leaders will use everything in their possession
including political patronage to avoid being held to account for their actions
in office.
Mr Lifuka says the weight of evidence adduced in court does
not correspond with the verdict of the court.
He said that it is a shame
that the magistrate, while acknowledging several instances where Dr. Chiluba
used a public account for his personal gain, failed to arrive at an inevitable
conclusion that the former president was guilty.
