Zambia's embattled ex-president Rupiah Banda pleaded not guilty on
Tuesday to charges of illicitly receiving election campaign vehicles from a
Chinese-linked construction firm.
Banda, who ruled Zambia between 2008 and 2011, is accused of
receiving 10 trucks from the local subsidiaries of China's Anhui Foreign
Economic Construction Group.
"I understand the charge your honour and I plead not
guilty," Banda said after the magistrate read the charge.
The 76-year-old also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of
concealing the fact he received the trucks by registering them under the names
of family members and a supporter.
It is alleged that the former leader used the vehicles, including
Mitsubishi Canters and Fuso Fighters, in his 2011 re-election campaign, which
he lost to current president Michael Sata.
Since Sata came to power he has rolled out an anti-corruption
drive that has seen senior politicians and diplomats hauled before courts.
But critics accuse him of using the campaign as an excuse to clamp
down on critics, including launching a slew of charges against Banda.
The former president has been accused of personally benefiting
from a $2.5m oil deal and has been blocked from leaving the country three times
since April.
The trial was set for 26 November and Banda was released on police
bond.
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