Zuma defence tries to throw focus on Mbeki

JOHANNESBURG – The defence in the corruption trial of South Africa’s former Deputy President Jacob Zuma is seeking to turn the focus in the sensational case to President Thabo Mbeki, according to published court papers.

Zuma appeared in court on Monday for the first hearing on corruption charges that were at the root of Mbeki’s decision to fire the hugely popular politician last year. Newspapers on Wednesday published excerpts of a 100-page affidavit filed by Zuma’s lawyers in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which suggests that Mbeki, not Zuma, should be asked if a multibillion-dollar arms procurement deal involved corruption.”President Mbeki was, in his position as then deputy president and cabinet member, very much involved in the arms deal process,” Zuma said in the affidavit, referring to the 1998 order for the purchase and fitting of navy corvettes.”He took an active interest and part in it.He engaged role-players and interested parties …Mbeki is a person ideally suited to depose to the absence of corruption in the award process,” Zuma said in excerpts quoted by Johannesburg’s Star.A presidential spokesman declined comment on Zuma’s affidavit, saying it would be prejudicial to the case before the court.Zuma (64) was fired last year after he was accused of having a corrupt relationship with former aide Schabir Shaik and of accepting a bribe from French arms company Thint.Shaik was convicted of corruption and is appealing.Zuma denies the charges as does Thint, which is also in the dock in Pietermaritzburg.Political analyst Keith Gottschalk said Zuma’s affidavit likely would not have serious implications for Mbeki even if the president were to testify during the trial.Nampa-ReutersNewspapers on Wednesday published excerpts of a 100-page affidavit filed by Zuma’s lawyers in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which suggests that Mbeki, not Zuma, should be asked if a multibillion-dollar arms procurement deal involved corruption.”President Mbeki was, in his position as then deputy president and cabinet member, very much involved in the arms deal process,” Zuma said in the affidavit, referring to the 1998 order for the purchase and fitting of navy corvettes.”He took an active interest and part in it.He engaged role-players and interested parties …Mbeki is a person ideally suited to depose to the absence of corruption in the award process,” Zuma said in excerpts quoted by Johannesburg’s Star.A presidential spokesman declined comment on Zuma’s affidavit, saying it would be prejudicial to the case before the court.Zuma (64) was fired last year after he was accused of having a corrupt relationship with former aide Schabir Shaik and of accepting a bribe from French arms company Thint.Shaik was convicted of corruption and is appealing.Zuma denies the charges as does Thint, which is also in the dock in Pietermaritzburg.Political analyst Keith Gottschalk said Zuma’s affidavit likely would not have serious implications for Mbeki even if the president were to testify during the trial.Nampa-Reuters