Zambia health minister denies corruption charges in court

Zambia’s Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has denied the four charges of corruption being levelled against him.

"I understand the charges and I plead not guilty," the AFP news agency quotes the minister as saying in a Lusaka magistrates' court.

The 47-year-old doctor and politician was detained last month and then freed on bail by the police following an investigation by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

He is accused of “being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime,” ACC spokesperson Jonathan Siame said at the time of his arrest.

The anti-corruption commission said it noticed last month that Mr Chilufya had suddenly amassed a fortune.

He is accused of acquiring property, shares in a travel company and a boat, Reuters news agency says.

The ACC has had little success in prosecuting people in senior government positions.

Last year, Ronald Chitotela, who was then housing minister, was arrested but continued to serve in government and was cleared of the charges.