Mwanawasa confirmed dead
Our reporter/AFP
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:55:00 +0000
ZAMBIA’S President Levy Mwanawasa died Tuesday morning in a Paris hospital after suffering a stroke in June, a family member and the country’s vice-president Rupiah Banda have now confirmed the news to news agency AFP. “Yes, I can confirm that the president passed on this morning,” said the relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Banda told state television and radio that Mwanawasa died at 10:30 local time (0830 GMT) and that seven days of national mourning had been declared.
“Fellow countrymen, with deep sorrow and grief, I would like to inform the people of Zambia that our president Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died this morning at 1030 hours (0830 GMT),” Banda said.
Mwanawasa, 59, was rushed to hospital on 1st July in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh aboard an SOS international Air Ambulance after suffering a stroke just before an African Union summit.
He had successful surgery in Egypt and was transferred to France’s Val-de-Grace military hospital in Paris, a frequent destination for French and foreign dignitaries, where he received further treatment.
Mwanawasa was reported to have suffered a ‘brain hemorrhage’ which Egyptian doctors stopped when he was taken to hospital.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visited Mwanawasa before his evacuation.
Banda has acted as interim head of state of the southern African nation since then.
Mr Mwanawasa has been President of Zambia since January 2002.
He was one of the first African leaders to publicly criticize President Robert Mugabe of neighbouring Zimbabwe.
He is survived by his wife, Maureen Mwanawasa and their four children: Chipokota, Matolo, Lubona and Ntembe.
Mr Mwanawasa also has two other children, Miriam and Patrick, from his first marriage.
Zim Guardian/AFP
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