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Zambia ex-leader refuses to answer graft charges
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Zambia's ex-president Rupiah Banda will not appear before a government anti-graft panel which has summoned him to answer corruption charges, because he has immunity, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

The summonses form part of a wide-ranging and sweeping anti-corruption campaign launched by Banda's successor Michael Sata, mainly targeting high profile members of the former administration.

"He is not going there! For what?" one of Banda's lawyers Sakwiba Sikota declared.

Banda, who took office in 2008 but lost the 2011 election to Sata, had been ordered to appear before the anti-graft task force on Thursday.

But Sikota told AFP late Tuesday that Banda "is not going to appear before the investigations wing."

Anti-Corruption Commission chief Rosewin Wandi said even as Banda has immunity for any offences committed while he was in office, he was wanted to answer charges into "allegations of corruption and other criminal activities" in which he had been named.

Sikota insisted the former head of state was protected by presidential immunity and as such could not appear before the investigating team.

Posted by: Fred 2013-02-07
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=361744