Chiluba was accused of stealing about $500,000 to support his extravagant lifestyle when he served his two term from 1991 - 201 after defeating Zambia's first President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, in Zambia's first multi-party elections.

Although Chiluba supported his successor, the late Levy Mwanawasa, it was Mwanawasa who pushed for the Parliament to lift Chiluba's immunity in 2002 to facilitate criminal proceedings against him. Earlier this year, the London High Court found him guilty and ordered him to pay back the money he stole from the government.

Following the judgement that cleared him of corruption charges, Chiluba's lawyers have written to the Speaker of the National Assembly demanding the restoration of his presidential immunity.

In Malawi, the former President Bakili Muluzi is also facing corruption charges.

Let's see what Zambian bloggers and their readers say about the judgement and the future of the fight against corruption in Zambia.

“Justice by executive order- The Era of Bwezani Banda”, is the title of a post by Mwankole in reaction to the ruling. Mwankole argues that the current President, Rupiah Banda, influenced court's judgement:

Despite the overwhelming evidence presented, which in some bizarre fashion was sufficient to convict his principal accomplices Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu to 3 years of hard labor prison sentences, Chiluba come off without the slightest pretense of a reprimand. Chiluba was the President in charge when Kabwe and Chungu were stealing; further the evidence for all intents and purposes points to the duo carrying water on Chiluba’s behalf.
Doesn’t he bear some responsibility, if not all? Does the buck not stop at plot one?

Proof that it is not the weight of evidence that determines the outcome of significant legal cases in Zambia; it is the executive that calls the shorts.
It therefore follows, that Magistrate Jones Chinyama had to buy himself more time before passing judgment on Chiluba, a whole weekend to consult the almighty Rupiah Bwezani Banda [The President of Zambia]. He then had, come up with 6 hours long blah…blah, that let loose without so much as a slap on wrist, one of Zambia’s most unscrupulous plunderer simply because the current plunder did not want a precedent set.

A reader at Zambia Watchdog says:

The mess Levy has left behind is that on one hand we have a London Judgement while on the other hand we have a Zambian Judgement. Which one does one go for. The Post and the like obviously will be full of praise for the London judgement while people like me prefer the Zambian judgement. We all know that the British and American would not agree to have anyone of their own tried in a foreign country. Remember those 2 black British School girls who some two years or so were caught in Accra with drugs. The British Govt fought hard to have them tried in Britain and not Ghana. Why then should we subject our former presidents, no matter how bad one might be to a foreign court if others can refuse to have mere school girls tried abroad? What arrogance. Levy got it wrong. In any case apart from shoes and shirts what else is there to show that FTJ stole.

Another one warns African dictators:

Dictators of Africa who are stealing from their pipo should not liken Chiluba’s judgement will apply to them too. Muluzi’s case is in Malawi and Malawi is not Zambia. I feel the prosecuting government in Malawi will tighten the loose ends and send Muluzi to jail after learning that Zambia has failed to send Chiluba to jail.
Chiluba will enter jail briefly and am seeing it. The London court is not silly to have judged him that way after having enough evidence that he stole from the Zambian pipo. Not all Zambians are happy with the Jones Chinyama ruling so far. RB should not cheat that Zambians ve accepted the ruling, we are still following up and if he had a hand to this judgement, time will catch with him also. His on record already, ‘Chiluba good damn president’.

Ben Israel is disappointed at the ruling but not shocked:

It is extremely disappointing to hear such news BUT am personally not shocked, Chiluba’s freedom was inevitable… I mean this case was supposed to have been over the moment they (prosecutors) started probbing. There was truely enough evidence to use against Chiluba but the moment they started dragging shoes in the issue we should have known it was a lost cause.
Perhaps if Levy was still alive the outcome might have been different because it seems like he was the only one brave enough to do the Zambian people Justice. Chiluba destroyed many lives and I know this for certain because I come from the copperbelt, Luanshya to be exact and I saw first hand the kind of confusion which arose during the privatisation era (people lost houses and Jobs and mining towns became Ghost towns).
Now suddenly Chiluba is the victim, this my people is pure evidence of how corrupt Zambia really is. We need to do something radical about this cancer (corruption), our leaders have no will to serve us – the only thing that concerns them is money and power.

Zambia Watchdog writes about the call for restoration of Chiluba's immunity:

Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwaambwa is reportedly under pressure to immediately convene parliament to restore former president Fredrick Chiluba’s immunity.
Sources at Parliament have told the Watchdog that the speaker has problems convening parliament because of the way the demand has been made.
Chiluba’s lawyers Simeza Sangwa and Associates wrote to the speaker on Tuesday for him to convene parliament.

Ulemona responds to the news:

Is there no one left with a back bone and integrity? Twachula pafula [It means “We have suffered enough” in Bemba). Pls Mr Speaker, save Zambia and stop this nonsense!

Zambiano says:

The MPs should for once stand for the Zambian people and reject this. It would deny those of us who want government to appeal our chance. Too much money was stolen and these guys have either walked Scot free or got cosmetic sentences. We are watching!

B M says:

Nkole [Nkole is the Chairman of the Task Force on Corruption] must shutup,how much taxpayers money do they want worst on cases they can’t win in our courts,he’s mentioning other cases how far have they gone?the Task Force chairman is very mean,taskforce must be dissolved forthwith..these prosecutors must find jobs elsewhere.Chiluba has suffered alot under these political cases that even from the onset direction was difficult to tell…Can Nkole tell the the nation for the past 8years what has happened to the remaining cases,why the delay?its simple it benefitts him and other collegues at Taskforce!

Zambian Progress thinks that the ruling is an indication of Zambian government weakness on corruption:

While many Zambians will point accusing fingers at Ndola High Registrar. We must realise that FJT's free ride is not about the presiding magistrate but MMD government and its plans which has proven itself in this case that it is weak, soft and legally incompetent to prosecute corruption cases.We not blame for the magistrate for acquittal; but hold MMD accountable for failing to prove the case.

Then, there is RB telling the nation that he is happy for Zambians to accept Chiluba walk to freedom; please!!! Chiluba was already accepted by Zambians. We Know he destroyed the economy through credit privatisation of the companise withour oversight and accountability. Zambians accepted him when he wanted a Third Term and we accepted him when Zambian had no medicines in hospitals, Chiluba was buying designer suits and shoes.

Zambians must respect the ruling of court but hold MMD government accountable in the manner it handled this case. MMD government has wasted taxpayer's money with this case which many top MMD officials knew it was a dead end. Zambians deserve to know who how much MMD government has spend on this case since it started. This is total wasteful spending by the government.

Economist Hernando de Soto appears in the following video congratulating the winners and thanking all of those who participated:

The winners are:

From Brazil, Anna Carolina dos Santos Israel, a film student who shows us that democracy is all about consensus, even between different parts of the same body:

From the United Arab Emirates, Rodin Hamidi is a photographer who shows us how getting democracy can be a process requiring lots of insistence, since the efforts may not be appreciated by those who need it most:

From Nepal, Tsering Choden is a magazine and radio personality who portrays democracy as a communion among people with different concerns and needs:

From Poland, Lukasz Szozda, an illustrator who shows us through an animation how Democracy embraces more than just one concept:

From the Philippines, Melissa Angela Verzosa Peñafiel, a film-maker, brings us a different perspective on Democracy with a poetic flair: maybe democracy as a word is being overused, and its meaning is getting lost.

And finally, from Zambia we have film-maker Chansa Tembo, who succinctly describes democracy as mixture that is much better than the individual ingredients.

We wish all the winners the best of luck and hope to keep up with them as they travel to the USA this coming October.

We are learning from Zambia Watchdog that only four countries in the SADC region recognise Africa Day as a public holiday:

Looking back, it seems like the unity demonstrated by Africans as they fought against colonialism and imperialistic dominance is no longer there. In some parts of the continent, leaders are so self-centred that continental issues have been relegated to the very bottom.

Is it not a shame that to this day, few African countries recognise Africa Day? Is it not a shame that very few countries on the continent have set aside this day as a public holiday? And what lessons does this teach the future generation?

Looking at the calendars of the 14-members of SADC, only four countries - Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe recognise Africa Day as a public holiday. In the SADC region, it is only Namibia which has made the singing of the AU anthem a permanent feature at public gatherings and in schools.

Jason Von Berg blogs about Africa Day related events that took place in South Africa:

So in celebration of Africa Day, there’s a whole host of things happening in South Africa. The annual Africa Day concert took place at the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg…

Now speaking of music videos, here is another Africa Day-focused one, in which Namibian artist Gazza has teamed up with SA star Zola on a song called “Hold On”. The song is sponsored by UNICEF and Standard Bank Namibia and it calls on all Africans to unite against the atrocities and conflicts that damages the African image…

The best way to celebrate Africa Day is through hard work, writes the Root Cause:

Being an African, and a part of a new generation of South Africans, I am forced to look north towards the rest of the continent, and wonder if it will ever rise out of the misery and sadness that keeps it from really being a part of the world community.

But at the same time I have this terrible problem of being an optimist by nature; I have this faith that this is Africa’s century. A time to be nurtured from within. Really making a go for it!

The Irish Aid supported Africa Day celebrations in Ireland. Culch.ie writes about events in Dublin:

On Sunday coming, 24th May, from 12pm til 8pm, Africa Day are having a FREE outdoor event in Iveagh Gardens in Dublin 2. There is a huge variety of entertainment on offer here for kids as well as adults

There is a Flickr stream of Africa Day 2009 photos in Ireland:

Bock posts “Africa Day Limerick”:

They’re crazy, these Africans. What a shame they have to put up with Irish weather.

What a shame that any of us have to put up with Irish weather where it rains all the time.

Never mind though.

Africans have failed to learn key lessons about taking care of themselves, argues Angela Kintu in her post about Africa Day:

Africa has had a few tough decades with interference from our not-so-neighbourly neighbouring continents. And while the neighbours appear to be trying to make up for the bad times, conspiracy theories abound on how they are now colonising our minds since they no longer have legal access to our bodies. Maybe, maybe not. What is clear is that we have failed to learn key lessons about taking care of ourselves. We can be like penguins in a hole, looking up with our mouths open, waiting for someone to throw us a free fish.

In the twittersphere, the Irish Aid created a special Africa Day page.

Below are tweets that one finds on twitter about Africa Day:

NeoAid: There's more Africa than what usually makes headlines (poverty/AIDS/war/famine) - See Africa Differently this #africaday http://ow.ly/94cS

tsepeaces: Happy Africa Day! #africaday

NeoAid: If you happen to be in Ireland for #africaday, check out Irish Aid's celebrations at http://ow.ly/94aT or follow them @AfricaDay

neoaidcom: If you happen to be in Ireland for #africaday, check out Irish Aid's celebrations at http://ow.ly/94ay or follow them @AfricaDay

paoladm: #africaday hello a f r i c a ,http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/culture/africaday/

NeoAid: Happy Africa Day everybody! http://ow.ly/94ak #africaday

neoaidcom: Happy Africa Day everybody! http://ow.ly/949K #africaday

loopyginee: RT @Devcrossing: RT @mulumba Happy Africa Day ma peoples! #africaday- And to you too!!!

micknsk: RT @negrita How good and how pleasant it would be/Before God and man/To see the unification of all Africans. Africa Unite #africaday

The case, Kingaipe and Another v Attorney-General, involves two former Zambian Air Force (ZAF) employees, Stainley Kingaipe and Charles Chookole, who were allegedly subjected to mandatory testing for HIV without their knowledge and dismissed due to their HIV status. The two men are seeking reinstatement and damages for mental and emotional anguish. Both applicants in the case worked with the ZAF for over 13 years, having joined when they were 21 years old. They held non-combat throughout their career at ZAF. In 2001, they were allegedly subjected to an HIV test without their consent or knowledge and given anti-retroviral treatment without their knowledge.

In October 2001, without their knowledge or participation, a Medical Board reviewed their medical records and declared them permanently unfit for service. They both continued to work at the ZAF for a full year after the Board decision, performing so well in their job that one of the applicants was promoted during that time. Neither of them took a day of sick leave during that one-year period. In October 2002, they were both dismissed.

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is an organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa working on human rights issues in Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The organisation engages in litigations advancing human rights and provides legal support through training.

In one of her posts from Livingstone, Zambia, Priti writes, “…I also am hoping to give folks a sense of what happens inside a courtroom especially in a groundbreaking trial; a lot of that is less about the law itself and more about people and their stories,”

I arrived in Livingstone, Zambia on Monday for the first ever case in Zambia to determine whether discrimination by the military on the basis of HIV violates the Zambian Constitution. The case goes to trial tomorrow, Wednesday.
So a few things to know before Wednesday:

* I expect the trial to last 3 or more days. During that time Paul Mulenga, the passionate lawyer for the two former employees, expects to call the two men, their former colleagues, a psychologist, psycho-social counsellor, an HIV expert, and a medical doctor to testify.
* I don’t know how many or who the Attorney-General’s office is going to call to testify.
* A number of other countries in the region, including Nambia and more recently South Africa, have rejected HIV discrimination in the military noting that there is no medical or policy reason for such a practice.
* I will try to provide regular updates of what is happening in the courtroom, but that will depend on internet connectivity in the High Court. At the least, I can promise to post at the end of the day on the day’s happening.

Finally, we (SALC) are a legal organization and I am a lawyer so there will be discussion of the legal issues and strategy involved in the case. But I also am hoping to give folks a sense of what happens inside a courtroom especially in a groundbreaking trial; a lot of that is less about the law itself and more about people and their stories.

In another post titled “Early coverage of the trial,” she writes:

So the Lusaka Times Online is carrying a wire story on the case. The story itself is basically a rehash of our press release but the comments to the story make interesting reading.

Zambia Watchdog coverage has also generated intense discussions.

Priti Patel spoke with Global Voices Online about their intention to liveblog/semi-liveblog (depending on Internet connection at the High Court in Livingstone) the trial.

Question: Let's start with the case. Why is this case important?
Answer: This is obviously a public interest case. It is the first case in this country that will decide whether the Zambian constitution protects people living with HIV/AIDS from discrimination and unfair dismissal from work. The other reason is that it is pretty clear that strengthening human rights in society helps mitigate the effect of HIV/AIDS. This case will basically decided the extent of rights guaranteed by the constitution for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Q: Your organisation works in 10 countries in Southern Africa. Is this the first case of this kind in the region?
A: There was a similar case in Namibia. Namibia had in a place a pre-employement HIV testing policy. The military was refusing to hire anybody found to be HIV positive. The policy was successful challenged in the Labour court.
Q: Generally speaking, how is the human rights situation in region?
A: It differs from country to country. For example, you have countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe where the human rights situation is very bad and then you have Botswana where the situation is much better. When it comes to HIV human rights situation there is a lot of work to be done throughout the region.
Q: I believe this will be the first time in the region for a trial to be blogged (live or semi-live). Why has SALC decided to blog this case?
A: One of the primary reasons is that most people don't get to see inside a court room. They don't know what happens at a trial. So we are hoping to provide a window into what happens in a trial. Another reason is that some of these cases take place in towns where the mainstream media do not pay attention to. Blogging this trial will also help people in the region to learn more about HIV and human rights issues. We don't intend to focus too much on legal technicalities but on the people involved in the trial and their stories and experiences, which I know will resonate with many other people in Southern Africa.
Q: Has blogging being part and parcel of SALC communication strategy?
A: Our blog has been around for sometimes but this will be our first attempt to blog regularly and engage more people in the region on issues relating to human rights. We intend to use our blog as a space for discussions and conversations about legal and human issues.
Q: How is the relationship between the mainstream media and human rights organisations in region? Is it easy to get your voice out through the mainstream media?
A: The mainstream media try to cover human rights issues. However, these issues are not covered adequately in many countries we work in. This is why we see an opportunity and a need for alternative media to cover human rights issues. Alternative media tools such as blogs, twitter and videoblogs will certainly help to fill the gap.
Q: What else do you have in mind in terms of using new media to report and discuss human rights issues in the region?
A: We are currently thinking about using Twitter to tell people, for example, about cases going to court in different countries in Southern Africa, when decision are issued, etc. We think that it will be useful to explore these new forms of communication in the work that we do. I know that in this process we will encourage other organisations to start thinking about being part of conversations taking place in cyberspace. We are a small organisation, so if we can use new media successfully other organisations will get motivated and hopefully individuals working on human rights issues will also take new forms of media seriously.
Q: Are there spaces online at the moment where there are vigorous discussions about human rights issues in the region?
A: Most of the discussions going on in these new media spaces are about politics and technology. We hope to provide a forum for people to learn, discuss and ultimately get involved with human rights issues in their countries.
Q: What did you learn from your first experience using new media during the Guantanamo trials?
A: That experience gave me the sense that a blog could be a real useful way of letting people see and follow a trial without being physically present in the courtroom.
Q: Lastly, do think new media tools and practices such as blogs, twitter, social networking, etc, will lead to tangible social and political change in the region?
A: New forms of media are good in terms of getting the word out faster with limited resources, raising awareness, eliciting opinions, comments and feedback. In Southern Africa, we are in the first stage, which is about raising awareness and reaching out. I hope we will soon move to the second stage where people will take these issues to policy makers. This is when we will move past discussions and decide to do something about the information we receive. But this first stage is very important because we need to have the knowledge of what is happening and a sense of what should not happen, then we will be able to act. We are not there yet.

* Follow the trial on SALC blog.