Tele-evangelist given key Zambian post

No reason was given for Mr Kavindele's sacking

Zambia's leader has named a popular television-evangelist and former opposition leader as his new vice-president.

Nevers Mumba replaces Enoch Kavindele just a day after he scrapped his National Citizens Coalition (NCC) and joined the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Also sacked in Tuesday's reshuffle were Finance Minister, Emanuel Kasonde, and Information Minister Newstead Zimba.

President Levy Mwanawasa said he had appointed Mr Mumba to the post because he had agreed to work with his government.

Corruption crusade

Mr Mwanawasa came to power following the disputed 2001 elections and his rule has been characterised by an anti-corruption campaign that has seen his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba, charged with abuse of office.

The BBC's Penny Dale in Lusaka says that for several weeks now, the president has been threatening to sack unnamed corrupt cabinet ministers.

"The immediate speculation will be that that is why the vice-president has been sacked".

Mr Mumba, a northerner who founded the Victory Ministries, ran for president in the 2001 elections.

But his NCC party failed to win a single parliamentary seat.

A few months ago, President Mwanawasa caused a political stir by saying that some northerners were plotting against him.

He described them as "dirty and stinking".

Our correspondent says that the appointment of Nevers Mumba as the country's vice-president could be an attempt to appease angry northerners.