Lusaka - Zambia's president Rupiah Banda has fired the country's top anti-corruption official for pursuing the prosecution of former president Frederick Chiluba, a statement released by the cabinet office said Wednesday.

Maxwell Nkole, Chairman of the Task Force on Corruption, had last week instructed prosecution lawyers to appeal against the acquittal of former Zambian president Frederick Chiluba on theft charges relating to some 500 million dollars.

Chiluba was acquitted on August 17.

Nkole was fired less than 24 hours after appearing on a television show to criticize the Banda government for not doing enough to combat corruption.

Nkole, who was appointed by the late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa, was mandated to investigate and prosecute corruption allegation in Chiluba presidency, which lasted from 1991 to 2002.

Banda has since appointed Godfrey Kayukwa to serve as executive chairman of the Task Force until further notice,

A Zambian court on Tuesday reinstated the passport of Chiluba and the court has also issued a certificate of acquittal.

Chiluba has been seen waving the symbol of the ruling party and has since pledged to politically campaign for Banda for the 2011 general election.

His wife, Regina, was convicted on corruption charges in March and sentenced to three and a half years in prison but appealed to higher court.

Chiluba's immunity from prosecution was lifted in 2003 by the man he had personally picked to succeed him as president, Mwanawasa.

After his acquittal Chiluba has written to the speaker of the national assembly to convene a special section of parliament to have his immunity restored. (dpa)