Zambia names new graft buster

LUSAKA – A retired senior police officer has been appointed to take over Zambia’s anti-corruption task force, the government announced yesterday, despite widespread public pressure for his predecessor to stay in the job.

Max Nkole replaces Mark Chona, whose 3-year contract ended last month, President Levy Mwanawasa’s office said. Mwanawasa declined to renew Chona’s term to protests from aid donors, human rights groups and newspapers who said Chona had led the government’s anti-graft campaign with distinction.A career policeman who rose to the rank of deputy head of the police service and served in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, Nkole retired from the civil service in 1997.His mandate will be to secure quick convictions against people the task force had charged with corruption and abuse of office, Nkole aides said.Mwanawasa’s campaign has centred around former President Frederick Chiluba and his entourage.- Nampa-ReutersMwanawasa declined to renew Chona’s term to protests from aid donors, human rights groups and newspapers who said Chona had led the government’s anti-graft campaign with distinction.A career policeman who rose to the rank of deputy head of the police service and served in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, Nkole retired from the civil service in 1997.His mandate will be to secure quick convictions against people the task force had charged with corruption and abuse of office, Nkole aides said.Mwanawasa’s campaign has centred around former President Frederick Chiluba and his entourage.- Nampa-Reuters