Zambia

Reports of Mwanawasa's death malicious, says Information Minister

Article published on the 2008-07-03 Latest update 2008-07-03 09:30 TU

Levy Mwanawasa (R) with South Africa's Thabo Mbeki at the SADC summit in Lusaka in April
(Photo: Reuters)

Zambian Vice-President Rupiah Banda has denied reports that President Levy Mwanawasa has died in a Paris military hospital. The report on South African radio station Talk Radio 702, quoted the Zambian embassy there. Information Minister Mike Mulongoti described reports that the president had died as "malicious".

Mulongoti told state radio and television that Mwanawasa, 59, was responding well to treatment and that doctors were happy with his progress.

Mwanawasa was flown to the Percy-Clamart military hospital from the African Union summit in Egypt two days ago after suffering severe chest pains. He had been due to take part in the bloc's Peace and Security Council on Sunday.

French Foreign Ministry officials say they "are not in a position to confirm" reports of his death.

Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata told RFI that the world should not belive the reports until they have been confirmed by the French government.  

"My advice is, until such time we have official information on anything, either side, it will be sad and embarrassing for us to start speculating," he said.

Mwanawasa took over the rotating presidency of the Southern African Development Community  (SADC) in April and had been sharply critical of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the recent controversial election.

He has ruled Zambia since 2002. He has been accused of nepotism and tribalism, even by members of his own party.

His predecessor, Frederick Chiluba, has been investigated for corruption.