This may not be the best of times for former Zambian president Rupiah Banda as the government has summoned him for questioning, a day after he was stripped of his immunity from prosecution.
"I can confirm that the former president has been summoned to appear before us for questioning on Monday," Namukolo Kasumpa, a spokesperson for the government investigation team said on Saturday.
The summons may mean government is preparing official charges against Banda, who is accused of abuse of office and the misappropriation of
more than $11 million of public funds during his three years as president.
Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba while presenting the allegations in parliament on Friday said the government had concluded its investigations and is ready to prosecute.
Banda who was swept from office in 2011 after losing to incumbent President Michael Sata in the presidential election maintains he has not been given a chance to defend himself.
Sata's government has launched several high-profile graft probes into deals struck by the former administration and arrested a number of opponents, raising fear the country is sliding toward authoritarianism.
Banda's lawyer Robert Amsterdam was quoted as saying in a statement that Friday's action in parliament was aimed at getting rid of political competitors.
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