Chiluba drops new term bid, sacks cabinet

Lusaka - President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia said in a television message taped for national broadcast yesterday he would not…

Lusaka - President Frederick Chiluba of Zambia said in a television message taped for national broadcast yesterday he would not seek the unconstitutional third term endorsed by his party at a sometimes violent weekend congress. "I will leave office at the end of my term. Let's take national interests into consideration. This is in the best interest of the nation," Mr Chiluba said in the message. "The cabinet is dissolved, including all positions of deputy ministers," he added.

Two of his own MPs had filed a motion, backed by more than one-third of the 158 other members, calling for Mr Chiluba's impeachment on several counts of gross misconduct.