Many believe he is avoiding harsh glare from the media by coming to 'safer haven'

As the judge returned with a "guilty" verdict for Durban businessman Schabir Shaik, Deputy President Jacob Zuma was being feted by the Zambian government in Livingstone.

Media reports from the resort town said it was business as usual for Zuma - with whom Shaik had a "generally corrupt relationship" - as he toured the city's tourism spots ahead of a state banquet at the plush Royal Livingstone Sun hotel.

He made small talk over dinner with his Zambian counter-part, Lupando Mwape, about how Zambia had greatly contributed to the freedom struggle of South Africa.

The deputy presidents viewed the mighty Victoria Falls together, disturbing regular tourists as security tightened to protect them.

Later, Zuma was driven to the Livingstone Museum to learn a little more about Dr David Livingstone, the first white man to set eyes on the Victoria Falls.

Accompanied by a 32-man delegation comprising Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Rejoice Mabudafhasi and several other senior government officials, Zuma brought the normally serene small town alive.

Zuma was scheduled to continue his visit last night ahead of a busy schedule in Lusaka, which was once the headquarters of the ANC.

"He will lay some wreaths on the grave of former ANC secretary-general Duma Nukwe, visit the house Oliver Tambo once lived in and another house first Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda lived in," a statement from the Zambian vice-president's office said.

But Zambians who have been keenly following the Shaik trial and its undeniably close link to Zuma say they are not fooled.

"I think he is avoiding the glare of the aggressive South African media by coming over here," said Mervin Siyafunko, the local correspondent of the Southern Times.

Siyafunko added that if Zuma had remained in South Africa while the verdict was read, he would have been torn to shreds. So he had fled to Zambia, a "safe haven", with the official visit a smokescreen.

Today Zuma was due to have breakfast with South African business houses based in Zambia.

He was then due to address African diplomats based in Lusaka about the importance of African unity, good governance and economic development.

A former cabinet minister at State House with vast diplomatic experience in Lusaka said Zuma's visit should be taken at face value.

"It's clearly a red herring with no direct political or economic enhancement to Zambia," the former minister said.

"Deputy President Zuma comes at a time when President Mwanawasa is out of the country attending a Comesa conference in Rwanda, and he will leave before the president returns, so clearly he is not a bearer of President (Thabo) Mbeki's message...

"If he was, he would have waited for President Mwanawasa to come - the man is on holiday."

Many Zambians relate to the Shaik trial and liken it to the "feeble" anti-corruption crusade being fought by Mwanawasa against former president Frederick Chiluba.

With acknowledgements to Anthony Mukwita and The Star.