Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa dies in France

By Shapi Shacinda

ZAMBIAN President Levy Mwanawasa died in a French hospital on Tuesday after suffering a stroke in June, Vice President Rupiah Banda said.

He was 59.

"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 on state television.

"I also wish to inform the nation that national mourning starts today and will be for seven days."

Banda is expected to take over as acting president according to Zambia's constitution and elections would be called.

On Monday, Banda released a statement saying Mwanawasa's health suddenly deteriorated on Sunday night and he required medical intervention.

"Dr. Mwanawasa had been making steady progress until Sunday night when his condition suddenly changed and required intervention," Banda said.

Mwanawasa suffered a second stroke during an African Union summit in Egypt in June and was flown to France where he had remained at the Percy Military Hospital until his death.

The Zambian health minister said earlier this month that he was in a 'stable but heavily sedated' condition.

Speculation that Mwanawasa may be unable to return to work prompted demands that doctors examine him and decide whether he is fit to remain president.

The Zambian leader was a favourite of the International Monetary Fund and other Western donors, who extended billions of dollars in debt relief after he cracked down on government spending and launched the biggest anti-corruption drive since Zambia won independence from Britain in 1964.

His policies helped usher in strong economic growth, which averaged 5 percent over the last six years, while inflation declined to single digits in April 2006, for the first time in over three decades.

Despite the debt relief package and major investments from China and India, Mwanawasa battled a growing public perception that his strong fiscal record had done little to benefit most of the 11.5 million people in the copper-rich nation.

Mwanawasa became vice president in 1991 after Frederick Chiluba ousted founding President Kenneth Kaunda in landmark multiparty elections.

Soon after winning the presidency in late 2001, he stunned observers by turning on Chiluba.

Mwanawasa narrowly defeated opposition leader Michael Sata in a presidential election in 2006. Sata accused Mwanawasa of selling out Zambia to Chinese and Indian companies. - Reuters
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