The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has brought out the big guns to counter Jacob Zuma’s bid to have his corruption trial struck off the court’s roll and has challenged him to back up his claim of a political conspiracy against him.

NPA head Vusi Pikoli (pictured), his predecessor Bulelani Ngcuka, former justice minister Penuell Maduna and Scorpions chief Leonard McCarthy have made affidavits in papers filed in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to beef up the state’s response to Zuma’s application to have the charges against him and French arms company Thint dismissed.

Zuma claimed in court papers last month that his investigation and prosecution on two counts of corruption related to the controversial multibillion-rand arms deal were part of a conspiracy to thwart his political career and his chances of becoming president of the African National Congress (ANC) next year and SA in 2009.

In his affidavit, Maduna, who serves with Zuma on the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), says Zuma’s conspiracy claims against him, Ngcuka, Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils and the NPA are “opportunistic and squalid” attempts to deflect attention from the serious criminal charges he faces.

“At no stage did (Zuma) place before the NEC any evidence of such a political conspiracy. I would have expected that, had he had any evidence of such a conspiracy, he would have availed himself of this opportunity to air them. I should add that the NEC concluded that there was no such conspiracy, a conclusion which he has never refuted,” says Maduna.

The recent revival of the conspiracy allegations by Zuma and some of his backers is likely to sharpen divisions in the ANC’s leadership echelons.

Zuma sought to place President Thabo Mbeki at the centre of his defence by claiming in court papers that Mbeki was better placed to answer questions about possible corruption in the arms deal.

He also claimed that Mbeki’s decision to fire him last year resulted from Pikoli’s decision to charge him, an allegation Pikoli denies in his affidavit.

“By asserting, without a shred of proof, that the real reason (for his axing) was that I had decided to prosecute (him) for corruption, (Zuma) is effectively branding the president a liar. I challenge (Zuma) to pertinently state that the president lied to Parliament and to spell out whether or not he asserts that the president is also a party to the alleged political conspiracy against him.”

Ngcuka, who has been branded the leader of the anti-Zuma conspiracy by the ANC Youth League, also denied any knowledge of a conspiracy, saying he did everything in his power as NPA boss to protect Zuma from public embarrassment when allegations of corruption against him first surfaced.

The state’s move is likely to turn up the political heat on Zuma and may force the beleaguered politician to rethink his strategy of placing Mbeki at the centre of his defence.

Zuma’s legal strategy has been a fine balance between defending himself and maintaining unity in the ANC, with an eye on next year’s national conference, where a new leadership will be elected.

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions reiterated yesterday that there was an “active collaboration between the NPA and some in the media, with the view of launching a media trial that would tarnish Zuma’s credibility and standing, as part of a well-orchestrated campaign to end his political career”.

With acknowledgement to Vukani Mde, Edward West and Business Day.