Lusaka - Zambian anti-corruption investigators have seized 100 pairs of shoes, 300 shirts and 150 suits belonging to former president Frederick Chiluba.
He reacted angrily to the weekend seizure of his wardrobe, saying it was meant to embarrass him, but investigators said they wanted to show how he abused office during his 10-year rule that ended three years ago.
"What they have done is to bring my underpants out to the general public," Chiluba said. "They have realised that their personal crusade to destroy me has failed."
Zambians were already drawing comparisons between Chiluba's shoes and those owned by flamboyant former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos, who left behind at least 1 200 pairs of shoes when she and her husband fled into exile in 1986.
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'I have always dressed very well from the 1960s' Chiluba's wardrobe was seized from the warehouse of a privately owned financial services firm that police have previously linked to the siphoning of public funds during Chiluba's administration.
"Several items have been seized after a search and they include 150 suits, 300 shirts and 100 pairs of shoes," a police spokesperson said.
Chiluba told a news conference the search and seizure of his clothes was a fresh attempt by the government of his successor, Levy Mwanawasa, to "disgrace me and cause me embarrassment".
Chiluba said anti-graft investigators were using the law to harass and make allegations of impropriety against him.
"It is sad that the fight against corruption is being reduced to discussing suits, shirts, ties and shoes. Zambians know me and know that I have always dressed very well from the 1960s," Chiluba said.
"They also want to bring me into ridicule and make the case look like it is similar to Marcos of the Philippines," he said.
Chiluba also said neither he nor his lawyers were informed in advance of the search.
"How can they conduct a search and seize my personal effects without the knowledge or consent of myself or my lawyer?" Chiluba asked.
He said some of his personal effects had been transferred to the private warehouse after he had left the palatial presidency in December 2001 because his new home was too small and could not accommodate all his belongings.
Mwanawasa has made an anti-corruption campaign targeting Chiluba's administration the centrepiece of his presidency.- Reuters
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This article was originally published on page 4 of The Mercury on March 15, 2005
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