Saturday, May 26, 2007

Chiluba collapsed due to stress - aide

Chiluba collapsed due to stress - aide
By Noel Sichalwe and Brighton Phiri
Saturday May 26, 2007 [04:00]

CHILUBA collapsed due to stress, his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba disclosed yesterday. In an interview with Lusaka's Q-FM Radio, Mwamba said this has been a difficult month for former president Frederick Chiluba.

"We tried to shield him from these things but it is not possible, he is the one that has to make decisions. For example on the matters in London he has to be fully informed about them, the outcome and he has to take personal decisions,"he said.

Mwamba said he thought the stress was associated with Chiluba's cardiac problem.

"Dr Chiluba is a cardiac patient for which he has been going through heart treatment for the past one year. I think the collapse is associated with his cardiac condition and the cardiac condition was diagnosed as related to stress," Mwamba said. "That is what was attributed to as having caused the heart problem."

And speaking after visiting him at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) VIP fast track section, opposition Patriotic Front president Michael Sata said he talked to Chiluba and that he was looking bright.

However, Chiluba refused to be visited by journalists and referred all queries to the sister-in-charge who in turn refused to speak, saying only UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta could comment.

Mbangweta said Chiluba's condition was stable. "But I can't discuss the health of our patient," Mbangweta said."If you want more information talk to his spokesperson."
According to Mwamba, Chiluba was taken to UTH after he collapsed in his bedroom on Thursday morning. UTH acting managing director Dr. Peter Mwaba said doctors were still evaluating Chiluba's condition.

And home affairs minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha yesterday urged Zambians to pray for Chiluba's quick recovery. "I think that Zambians should pray for him to recover so that he is normal like any one of us, so that he can enjoy life," he said. "We pray that he has good health and that in more than many ways he should have peace in his own heart. Now this thing has befallen him, we lift our hearts to God that He touches him and keeps him in good health."

And Nchelenge member of parliament Ben Mwila said he would find time to visit Chiluba in hospital. "I pray for Dr. Chiluba to be in good health,"said Mwila. Chiluba was due to appear before the UTH adhoc committee on Monday for the doctors to determine whether or not he was fit to stand trial in the magistrates court for theft of public funds, among other charges.

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