Mwanawasa, 59, was rushed to hospital on Sunday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh aboard an SOS international Air Ambulance after suffering a stroke just before an African Union summit.
ZAMBIAN President Levy Mwanawasa has died in a Paris hospital after suffering a stroke earlier this week, sources from the Zambian High Commission said on Thursday.
Officials in Lusaka did not release an immediate reaction.
Mwanawasa, 59, was rushed to hospital on Sunday 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 on Wednesday 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 on Sunday.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visited Mwanawasa before his evacuation Tuesday evening.
A prayer session, organized by the Bishops Fellowship of Lusaka, was held Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka to pray for his speedy recovery.
Former president Frederick Chiluba and his wife Regina, Ministers of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Mines and Minerals Development, Education, and Lands as well as opposition leaders were among those who attended the prayers.
Zambian Vice President Rupiah Banda had reported earlier on Thursday that his condition had stabilized and that he was receiving medical care for hypertension in the intensive care unit (ICU) at PercyMilitaryHospital in Paris.
"He passed on this morning," Malone Zaza, the Zambian high commission spokesman delivered the sad news.
Mwanawasa chaired the Southern African Development Community, which has been mediating between President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to try to end the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Mwanawasa suffered a mild stroke in 2006 but said before being re-elected that year that he was fit to stand for office.
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READER OPINIONS
Nova, Edinburgh • n/a Subject: PEACE BE UNTO ALL MEN. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:42:11 • When you wish your enemy dead,
it ricochets on yourself instead.
Wish your enemy well and long life -
and who knows,
we all might benefit from such kudos.
(Extending kudos to another is done as a praising remark.)
Stephen • stephen.daka@zambia.co.zm Subject: Pray for our President and the SADC region Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:02:12 • It is in times like these that people should stand together and pray not only for the quick recovery of our president, but also for peace and economic growth for the SADC region.
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:47:10 • Maku Jera are you saying Mugabe is immortal? It's against the spiriti of ubuntu/unhu to wish or celebrate somebody's death. I don't think that Mwanawasa's death has anything to do with his stance on Mugabe. Unless if you are saying Mugabe akamuroya. Well, I don't think so sezvo dai Mugabe airoya munhu waitanga kuroya ndiTsvangirai kwete Mwanawasa.
TUNDIRA • t.chana@hotmail.com Subject: CONDOLENCES Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:18:39 • CAN I PASS MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF GALANT SON OF ZAMBIA AND AFRICA.
ITS SAD GOD TAKES TRUE HEROES AND LEAVES US WITH COWARDS LIKE MBEKI AND MUGABE.
MAY GOD LOOK AFTER HIS SOUL,AND LONG SUFFERING TO STRANGE BEDFELLOWS MUGABE AND MBEKI
mary • manyanyazanu@statehouse.com Subject: ZIMBABWEANS PLEASE Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:37:15 • Please fellow Zimbabweans do not send mocking condolences its better you dont at all everyone will die its not because he was opposing Zimbabwe that he died if you are saying that the are you saying Mugabe auraya Mwanawasa nemishonga yake, kurai vanhu 2moro it can be your parent, child or you and if people rejoice I dont think it will be fair on you
N/A • N/A Subject: REST IN PEACE HE Mr Mwanawasa Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:16:51 • The pressure that has been applied on President Mugabe from my point of view, has been to really make our 84 year old hero so stressed that he would suffer a stroke in the process and die. It is unfortunate that young people have now joined in riddicling our leader as an old man who should leave the scene.Its GOD WHO DECIDES THAT. To the youngsters including some of these Presidents who are being used for pieces of silver, please learn from the lessons in the when children who mocked Elisha were devoured by bears.2Ki 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them
All the same, My Condolences to the people of Zambia and to Maurine and family
enock • egamha@yahoo.ca Subject: my sincere condolences Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:17:08 • i would like to send my condolences to the family of the president of Zimbia.my his soul rest in peace. If he had lession to the advices of other statesman like Mbeki he would have lived more years. Maybe because he betrayed his african brothers in Zimbabwe by selling them to Britain and maybe Mbuya Nehanda spirit just caught up with him. Its sad day for many Zambia. We just praying that God does help Mr Khama a causin of the British before he can back his minds. his somewhat a little bit going mad that if they bring him at ngucheni, clinic in time he can get well soon. and his soldiers whom he had send to the border between Zimbabwe to go back think about the country that they think they give it back to his causins. a country that went to one of the biggest countries in africa and restored peace up to date. fighting against more than 5 rebel group supported by more to countries. Zimbabwe will never be a colony again. what has gone wrong to his minds sir general, causin, former prim.now president of Botswana
Maku Jera • makuj@hotmail.com Subject: mwanawasa passes on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:33:47 • It is sad he has passed on now, at only 59. But, that is life - today it is Mwanawasa; tomorrow it can be Odinga and the next day, Khama and Kikwete, in that order.
It is really sad.
BODIDILEE, BULAWAYO • na.brixton Subject: THE FIRST DOMINO HAS FALLEN Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:09:49 • No more wining and dining at those expensive banquets, exsey.
Bring backthat dude Kenneth Kaunda! He should be old enough by now.
Decay, Mexico • na. Subject: THERE IS A GOD! Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:51:24 • While I do sympathise with his family and friends at the loss of this family member, my mind boggles at the fact that the Ancestors have finally moved in to square off the playing field!
Who wants to play games with us next eh? be it at your own peril dudes.
this calls for a tequila for sure! never mind our white farmers up there, whez the lemon and salt?
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