Zambia govt says sorry to Kaunda for treason arrest

LUSAKA – Zambia apologised on Saturday to its founding president Kenneth Kaunda for detaining him in 1997 on what officials have previously described as trumped-up treason charges.

Kaunda was detained for six months in 1997 on accusations he had plotted with 69 army officers and soldiers to topple ex-ruler Frederick Chiluba – who ousted Kaunda in 1991 multi-party party elections, ending 27 years of his leadership. “The state has conveyed its sincere and unreserved apology to first president of Zambia Dr Kaunda on his arrest and detention by servants or agents of the state on allegations of treason,” solictor general Sunde Nkonde said on Saturday.The statement was issued as Zambia prepares for elections marking the country’s 40th anniversary of independence.Nkonde said that Kaunda, who he maintained was subjected to “inhuman treatment without a fair trial” had accepted the apology.Kaunda could not be reached for comment.Mumba Malila, the head of the country’s human rights commission, said the state apology was a “befitting gesture to Kaunda for the injustice he suffered.”Kaunda was released after intervention by then South African president Nelson Mandela and late Tanzanian former president Julius Nyerere, two of Kaunda’s close personal friends.A senior intelligence source told Reuters that the government’s apology would mark the start of a reconciliatory process between Kaunda and Chiluba, widely seen as the instigator of the charges against the founding president.Chiluba himself has been at the centre of a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign launched 2 years ago by President Levy Mwanawasa – his successor and former protege.- Nampa-Reuters”The state has conveyed its sincere and unreserved apology to first president of Zambia Dr Kaunda on his arrest and detention by servants or agents of the state on allegations of treason,” solictor general Sunde Nkonde said on Saturday.The statement was issued as Zambia prepares for elections marking the country’s 40th anniversary of independence.Nkonde said that Kaunda, who he maintained was subjected to “inhuman treatment without a fair trial” had accepted the apology.Kaunda could not be reached for comment.Mumba Malila, the head of the country’s human rights commission, said the state apology was a “befitting gesture to Kaunda for the injustice he suffered.”Kaunda was released after intervention by then South African president Nelson Mandela and late Tanzanian former president Julius Nyerere, two of Kaunda’s close personal friends.A senior intelligence source told Reuters that the government’s apology would mark the start of a reconciliatory process between Kaunda and Chiluba, widely seen as the instigator of the charges against the founding president.Chiluba himself has been at the centre of a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign launched 2 years ago by President Levy Mwanawasa – his successor and former protege.- Nampa-Reuters