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Zambian President Mwanawasa dies in French hospital
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa died in a French hospital on Tuesday after suffering a stroke in June, Vice President Rupiah Banda said.
- Agencies
- Published: 17:15 August 19, 2008
Lusaka: President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, a favourite of Western donors, died in a French hospital on Tuesday, weeks after suffering a stroke. He was 59.
Mwanawasa won praise abroad for tackling corruption and turning the copper-rich southern African country into one of the continent's biggest success stories, but opponents said he had failed to help most Zambians escape poverty.
"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," Vice President Rupiah 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, before early elections in the country of about 11.5 million.
Zambia's kwacha currency fell as much as 3 per cent on news of Mwanawasa's death. He had suffered a second stroke during an African summit in Egypt in June and was taken from there to a French hospital.
Mwanawasa built his reputation as a lawyer for the former opposition, cultivating an earthy image. He became vice-president in 1991 and stunned observers after winning the presidency in 2001 by turning on former boss Frederick Chiluba.
The International Monetary Fund and other Western donors extended billions of dollars in debt relief after he curbed government spending and launched the biggest anti-corruption drive since Zambia won independence from Britain in 1964.
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