State assisted funeral for ex-leader Chiluba

yesterday, announcing a week of national mourning.
“The burial will take place on June 27 in Lusaka,” the secretary to the cabinet, Joshua Kanganja, said in a statement.
“President Banda of the Republic of Zambia has declared Monday June 20 to June 27 a period of national mourning for the late president Frederick Chiluba,” said Kanganja.
The 68-year-old leader ruled the southern African country from 1991 to 2001, he died at his home on Saturday morning after suffering a seizure.
He had been battling acute heart and kidney problems.
“During the period of national mourning, all flags will fly at half mast until the funeral. Radio stations should play solemn music between 6am (0400GMT) to 6pm,” said the statement.)
The cabinet also took a decision to postpone all public activities of entertainment and leisure during the period of mourning.
Chiluba was credited with turning the page on the autocratic rule of the country’s founding father Kenneth Kaunda but his image was later tainted charges of embezzling state funds.
He was tried for stealing public money amounting to US$500 000 during his time in office but later acquitted of the charges in 2008.
In 2010, a Zambian judge dismissed a ruling by a London court that found him and his associates guilty of siphoning US$46 million from the state coffers.
If the Zambian courts recognised the ruling, he would have had to pay back the money.
Kaunda was yesterday among the mourners who arrived at his home to pay their respects.
“Chiluba was a great unionist and died at a very tender age,” said Kaunda. – AFP.