Zambia's Chiluba hit with 23 million pounds for graft

By Shapi Shacinda

LUSAKA (Reuters) - A British judge on Friday ordered former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba and 19 others to pay back $46 million (23 million pounds) stolen while in office in a landmark strike against official corruption in Africa.

Judge Peter Smith, speaking live via satellite link from London, said he ordered that Chiluba and his associates must pay 85 percent of the funds allegedly stolen from the national treasury within 14 days.

Details on the amount Chiluba himself would have to pay back would emerge in the next few days.

"At the end of the day he (Chiluba) was the president at the top of the control of government finances. He was uniquely positioned to prevent corruption ... instead of preventing corruption, he actively participated in it," Smith said in his ruling.

Political analysts said the judgement was a milestone in Africa's efforts to recover money lost to official corruption, seen as a major drag on the continent's development.

"To my knowledge, this is the first legal ruling of such a case against any head of state past or present," said Ayesha Kajee, head of the Democracy and Political Party Systems in Africa programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs.

"This will certainly make current heads of state sit up and be a little more careful and especially draw the line between private funds and public funds ... it is a good start and will send out a strong message."

Zambian officials say they sued Chiluba and his allies in a London court because they own properties purchased using stolen public funds in Britain, Belgium and other European nations, an accusation Chiluba denies.