By the time of his indictment for corruption, former second republican president Frederick Chiluba of Zambia was already well known for being a great dresser. In one of the first internal criminal trials of an African leader for corrupt activity, the legal prosecution (2003–2009) was followed closely both locally and abroad. While the legal proceedings in Zambia dragged on, a special task force was established to investigate the allegations. When, in 2005, several metal trunks and suitcases were discovered in a warehouse in Lusaka, the capital, revelations about the former president's stunning wardrobe attracted sensationalist attention. Commenting on the revelation of the contents of his stored trunks, Chiluba said, ‘Old pictures are there, so you can see how I used to dress … I was one of the sweetest guys on the street, an entertainer, a politician, a unionist, a man of God. Amen’ (The Post 2005b). The revelations proved to be a turning point on which Chiluba's fondness for spectacular dress morphed into his stored wardrobe and in turn became emblematic of corruption. Consider the newsin- brief section in The New York Times on 15 March 2005, which, drawing on Reuters, reported the following:

To be sure, corruption and ostentatious consumption offer juicy news copy and provide dramatic accounts of the lavish lifestyles of former powerful leaders who have fallen from grace. Among the most obvious examples are Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (Wrong 2000: 211–231), Jean-Bédel Bokassa of the Central African Republic (Titley 2002), and Omar Bongo of Gabon (Ngolet 2000).