Zambian leader sacks his deputy

Dr Mumba says the pay cut is a moral obligation

Zambia's leader Levy Mwanawasa has sacked his vice-president, for accusing neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo of backing opposition parties.

A former TV evangelist, Nevers Mumba, was appointed from the opposition to be vice-president last year.

"He has been misunderstanding his line of duty," said Mr Mwanawasa, who has apologised for his deputy's "embarrassing and careless" remarks.

After his sacking, Mr Mumba said that his comments had been misrepresented.

He said he was accusing individual Congolese businessmen, and not the government, of channelling money to parties who were stirring up unrest in Zambia.

Mr Mwanawasa was at the UN General Assembly in New York, where he met Congolese President Joseph Kabila, when Mr Mumba made his accusations.

"I am the only one who is supposed to issue statements on intelligence issues relating to other countries," Mr Mwananwasa said.

Married to one of former Zambian leader Kenneth Kaunda's sisters, Mr Mumba made his name as a fiery TV evangelist.

When he decided to move into politics he failed to make much headway polling just 2% of the vote when he ran for president in 2001.

His appointment last summer as vice-president was a huge surprise marking a meteoric rise to power.

Mr Mwanawasa now says he will remove his nomination as an MP as well, making his decline just as swift.