ZAMBIA: FORMER PRESIDENT KAUNDA TO BE PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST

(31 Dec 1997) English/Nat

International pressure has forced the Zambian government to move former President Kenneth Kaunda from prison and put him under house arrest.

Kaunda - who stands accused of mounting a coup attempt will also be barred from political activities.

However, it is not yet clear if the 73-year-old former president - considered the father of Zambia's independence - will be released or how long he will continue to be detained.

It was here - to a high-security prison north of Zambia's capital, Lusaka that the country's former President Kenneth Kaunda was taken after his arrest on Christmas Day.

He was jailed on December 25th soon after returning to Zambia from a trip abroad, accused of being behind an October 28th coup attempt.

Here he's meeting former Tanzanian leader, Julius Nyerere, one of many pressuring Zambia's government to either try Kaunda or release him.

The United States, Britain, South Africa, Botswana, Libya and the Organization for African Unity had all called for Kaunda to be put on trial or be released.

And on Wednesday, their appeals seem to have been heard.

In a national T-V address, Zambia's President Chiluba remembered Kaunda's days of greatness.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"To governments in the region, we appreciate their concern. We appreciate their concern about Dr Kaunda, who was our leader during the liberation time. He led Zambia, and we can't take this away from him."
SUPER CAPTION: Frederick Chiluba, President of Zambia

Kaunda will be placed under house arrest, not kept in jail, he said.

But he will face strict restrictions -- including no political activities.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And so I listened to my elder statesmen and they are saying 'Keep him away from prison' so I called an emergency cabinet meeting last night and I informed them, and we agreed that we will not keep him in prison, we will move him from there and restrict him in his own house so that the former First Lady doesn't have difficulties in seeing my dear elder brother, Dr Kaunda. He will consequently be restricted in his own home but there are conditions on these restrictions and I hope he cooperates because if he doesn't we may be compelled to take him back to where he thinks he must stay."
SUPER CAPTION: Frederick Chiluba, President of Zambia

Kaunda led Zambia to independence from Britain in 1964.

He ruled the southern African nation for 27 years until he lost to Chiluba in the nation's first multiparty elections in 1991.

But it's not clear when the 73-year-old former president, would actually be released.

One Zambian leading the fight in Kaunda's support -- his son, a former army major -- here, leading a noisy demonstration outside Lusaka's High Court.

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