Former Zambian President Freed From House Arrest
Police freed former Zambian President Kenneth D. Kaunda on Thursday from a daylong house arrest after his supporters were accused of assaulting a government minister.
The arrest marked Kaunda’s third serious brush with the law since he launched a campaign this year to regain the office he lost to President Frederick Chiluba in elections in 1991.
Kaunda, 71, was in his home in the Eastern Province region Monday for special parliamentary elections when his supporters allegedly attacked the deputy education minister, Newton Nguni, who refused to give way to Kaunda’s motorcade.
Nguni told police Kaunda’s driver attacked him with a horsewhip while Kaunda watched.
Police intercepted Kaunda’s motorcade Wednesday and ordered him to stay at a local official’s house. Seven of Kaunda’s aides and bodyguards were also held pending an investigation.
In Tuesday’s elections in eight parliamentary districts, Kaunda’s United National Independence Party won three seats and Chiluba’s Movement for Multiparty Democracy won two; results for three other seats were not yet final.
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