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
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question: What is the prosecutor accused of?, answer: buckling under pressure from the ruling party. | question: Name the president of the ANC?, answer: Jacob Zuma, | question: What is the name of  the most powerful party in South Africa?, answer: African National Congress | question: Who is ANC president?, answer: Jacob Zuma, | question: Zuma is president of what party?, answer: African National Congress | question: Who denied claims of accepting bribes, money laundering, among others?, answer: Jacob Zuma, | question: What is the name of the president of the ANC?, answer: Jacob Zuma, | question: When is the vote expected?, answer: April 22.