afrol News, 26 August - Zambia’s Task Force Excutive Chairman Maxwell Nkole, has been fired following the verdict that saw former president, Frederick Chiluba walk free from corruption charges.

Secretary to cabinet Joshua Kanganja announced the termination of Mr Nkole’s contract yesterday evening further announcing the appointment of the new Task Force chief as Drug Enforcement Commission Director General, Godfrey Kayukwa.

He said the new appointment was with immediate effect but added that for administrative convenience until further notice.

There has been protests from the Committee for Citizens (CC) appealing to President Rupiah Banda to fire Mr Nkole and to disband the Task Force for allegedly handling the case against Mr Chiluba in an unsatisfactory way, leading to his acquittal.

Mr Chiluba was facing charges of corruption involving some US$ 500,000, and for allegedly enriching himself with public funds during his stay as the head of state. The court free him last week after saying the prosecution failed to prove its case against him.

The charge against Mr Chiluba was raised in 2003 when the former and the late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa launched an all out anti-corruption campaign, even against his predecessor. Mr Mwanawasa was hand-picked by Mr Chiluba as his successor following his two full terms as the Republican president in Zambia.

Mr Chiluba’s wife, Regina, was however given a three and a half jail sentence, in a separate charge, in March this year, for receiving stolen state funds. She is however appealing the sentence.

Mr Chiluba was Zambian president for two terms, having taken over in the return to multi-party democracy in 1991, in the former British colony.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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