JOHANNESBURG , South Africa ( CNN ) -- Prosecutors dropped corruption charges Monday against South Africa 's ruling party president Jacob Zuma , who is expected to win the presidential race later this month . Jacob Zuma is expected to win the country 's upcoming presidential election . The leader of the African National Congress had been charged with more than 700 counts of corruption and fraud . The charges , which were linked to a multibillion dollar arms deal in the country , were dropped after eight years of investigations . Zuma , who was named one of Time 's Most Influential People in 2008 , is favored to win the country 's next presidential elections scheduled for April 22 . He served as deputy president of South Africa from 1999 until he was fired in 2005 by President Thabo Mbeki over his alleged involvement in a bribery scandal . Opposition parties are accusing prosecutors of buckling under pressure from the ruling party . Mokotedi Mpshe , head of the National Prosecuting Authority , disagreed . `` An intolerable abuse has occurred , '' Mpshe said after reading transcripts of telephone conversations between two prosecution chiefs who appear to be planning to charge Zuma before ANC party elections . CNN 's Nkepile Mabuse contributed to this report .
Zuma is president of the Most Influential People , the most powerful party in South Africa 's . He is widely predicted to win the presidential vote , expected to take place in Monday . Jacob Zuma has denied claims of accepting bribes , money laundering , among others . Opposition parties accuse prosecutors of buckling under pressure .