Zimbabwe paper lauds lifting of Chiluba's immunity
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) -


 A Zimbabwean newspaper Thursday hailed
the lifting of former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba's
immunity from prosecution by parliament this week as a lesson for
corrupt and abusive leaders throughout Africa.

In an editorial, the weekly Financial Gazette said corrupt
leaders should not be shielded from prosecution and the law,
adding that it should be made abundantly clear that "there is no
choice, certainly no place for leaders who may want to become
larger than their own nations."

The Zambian parliament, angered by revelations by President Levy
Mwanawasa of gross financial impropriety under Chiluba's ten-year
rule which ended last December, this week stripped the former
president of his immunity from prosecution.

That paves the way for him to stand trial on the corruption
allegations.

The Financial Gazette said this would sow the seeds of good
governance across Africa, and deter government leaders from
abusing power while in office.

"Zambians have come of age, proudly showing the rest of southern
Africa that their nation is now a true democracy where political
leaders with dictatorial tendencies are not only frowned upon,
but are made to account for their actions, even after leaving
office," it said.

It added: "There is no denying the fact that Mwanawasa, elected
in flawed elections last December, is only acutely aware of those
damning circumstances and wants to make a clean break with the
bloated record of Chiluba, who crafted the rules of that
presidential ballot."

The newspaper also paid tribute to ordinary Zambians for showing
intolerance towards bad and corrupt governance, saying this had
partly jolted the authorities into acting against Chiluba.
-0- PANA RS/TKS 18July2002

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