Zambian leader's corruption drive

Mwanawasa has named a new cabinet in which he is both president and defence minister

LUSAKA, Zambia -- New Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has used the announcement of his 20-member cabinet to herald a crackdown on government corruption.

"Ministers will have no room for corruption or advancement of personal interest," Mwanawasa, who was sworn in as Zambia's third president last Wednesday, told parliament on Monday.

"Any betrayal of these ideals will lead to us parting company."

The 53-year-old lawyer won less than 30 percent of the vote in a closely contested December 27 election that the opposition said was marred by vote-rigging, sparking protests which have since subsided.

Mwanawasa chose as his finance minister Emmanuel Kasonde, a wealthy businessman who served in the same position in 1991 under then president Frederick Chiluba.

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"I have chosen Mr Kasonde because he is capable, and I am convinced in my own mind that he can do the job, that he can contribute to developing the country," Mwanawasa said.

He added: "The task is enormous. I have had several discussions with Mr Kasonde and I believe he will do the job."

Mwanawasa said he himself would take over the defence portfolio.

He initially gave a list of 19 ministers, but aides added one they said had been omitted.

Mwanawasa retained in his cabinet two controversial figures from Chiluba's cabinet -- former finance minister Katele Kalumba whom he made foreign affairs minister and information and broadcasting services minister Vernon Mwaanga who kept his post.

In July 2001, Kalumba and two other cabinet colleagues were the subject of an acrimonious judicial hearing after nearly $700,000 was diverted from parliament to fund the internal elections of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) party.

The tribunal cleared Kalumba of any wrongdoing but his colleagues Peter Machungwa and Godden Mandandi were found guilty. The pair are now out of the cabinet.

The joint opposition holds a slim majority over Mwanawasa's MMD in parliament and the new president said he found that a "healthy situation that will promote lively debate."

Mwanawasa, Chiluba's handpicked successor, has tried to distance himself from his predecessor's record, promising to revive the economy and fight official corruption.

Chiluba, Zambia's leader since 1991, and his MMD party have been blamed for graft, mismanaging the economy and reviving tribalism.