Zambian president raps predecessor for openly backing opponent
Mwanawasa said the law barred former presidents from taking an active and partisan role in politics unless they forfeited their pension, the state-run Zambia Daily Mail reported on Monday.
"The only mistake made here is to take an active stance in politics because that is infringing the law," Mwanawasa was quoted as saying.
Chiluba, who ruled Zambia for ten years, had passed the law gagging former heads of state. It was then seen as an attempt to block a possible comeback of Zambia's founding president Kenneth Kaunda, whom Chiluba succeeded.
Chiluba, whose health is deteriorating due to an acute cardiac complication, is on trial for corruption, theft of public funds and abuse of office when he served as head of state until his retirement in 2001.
The beleaguered former leader over the weekend urged Zambians to vote for controversial opposition leader Michael Sata in the September 28 elections and accused Mwanawasa of having "assassinated" the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
"In the absence of my party MMD which has been assassinated by Mwanawasa, I ask all of you in every part of this country to vote for Sata," Chiluba had said over the weekend. Mwanawasa however said the party had emerged stronger since he came to power in 2001 as the party's vision was "erroneous so I corrected it."
Sata last week pledged to drop all corruption charges against Chiluba if elected president, saying the former leader was being "persecuted" by Mwanawasa.
Kaunda has also backed another opposition presidential candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, and dismissed Sata, saying he had no leadership qualities.
Mwanawasa is facing four challengers in the September 28 presidential ballot, which is on the same day as Zambians elect a new Parliament and municipalities. His main challenge is from Sata, while support for Hichilema has also climbed in recent weeks.