ZAMBIA’S Information Minister Mike Mulongoti, in an emotional special radio and television broadcast on Thursday, said President Levy Mwanawasa was still alive, despite widespread reports he had died in Paris.
Appealing to the public to ignore what he called false rumours, Mulongoti said, "We spoke with the people at Mwanawasa's bedside a few minutes ago, including his wife, Maureen, who said president Mwanawasa was still alive and breathing."
Doctors at the military hospital in Paris, where Mwanawasa was transferred from Egypt on Tuesday night after suffering a stroke on Sunday on the eve of an African Union summit, had assured him the president was still alive and receiving treatment, he said.
The nation would be updated at 6pm (17.00GMT) on the president's condition, he said.
Lusaka was abuzz with reports on Thursday that Mwanawasa had died. While several senior sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that the report was true, and an official at the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria gave the same version of events to South Africa's 702 private radio, no open official confirmation has been given.
Sources also told dpa that Vice-President Rupiah Banda had called a cabinet meeting earlier.
Mulongoti's voice shook as he delivered his address.
South Africa's Talk Radio 702 reported earlier that Mwanawasa died in a Paris hospital on Thursday after suffering a stroke four days ago.
The radio quoted a Zambian High Commission spokesman as saying that Mwanawasa died earlier on Thursday morning.
Sixty-year-old Mwanawasa, who suffered badly from a stroke in 2006, was taken to hospital in Egypt just before the African Union summit on Monday and Tuesday and then transferred to Paris.
According to the Zambian Constitution, a presidential election is to be called within 90 days if Mwanawasa dies in office.
[Various newspaper reports]
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READER OPINIONS
da saint • na Subject: ENLIGHTENING? Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:53:30 • while we are badgering one another with rumours, what is this rumour i hear that TESCO are operating in Zambia now?
can anyone throw any truth on this?
and if TESCO is alive and well in Zambia and all our farmers are up there, how come they still got starving masses?
You can betcha bottom Z$ that if anyone claimed President Mugabe was dead (and he wasnt) we would hear all about it - straight from him in person, loud and clear. (Remember, President Banda lived to 101 at least.)
The most amazing thing about President Mugabe is that whatever he says IMMEDIATELY MAKES HEADLINES IN THE OVERSEAS PRESS!
i am sure other black leaders in Africa often make bold statements but we never hear them, yet if its our own President, his words are spread loud and clear for the whole world to hear.
In fact, havent you noticed how anyone now who wants to make headlines in the world is quick to piggyback on the subject of Zimbabwe? It makes me proud to be a Zimbabwean, because at least you and I dont have to piggback!
blakidza • mwanakizy@yahoo.co.uk Subject: zveshuwa here Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:49:44 • Kanazvirizvokwadi kuti bambo Mwanawasa kuchiribe may his soul rest in peace. munhu akanaka hararame kunosara mhondi nevaroyi.
Roderick, Herts • na. Subject: ITS A RELIEF HE IS NOT DEAD BUT... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:16:59 • Can the dead man walking please step forward and speak to us before this rumour gets totally out of hand.
Nehoreka • jekanyik@googlemail.com Subject: he is dead Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:38:54 • lm sure this Mwanawasa is dead, they are trying to late the dust settle coz their is a lot at stake here. First they need to find somebody to replace him and see what sort of elationship he can have with zimbabwe and southern africa
secondly, it needs to de sorted out who will be the next sadc chairman and now that we dont know the sadc constituion, we can only speculate
Diddley Squat, Tasmania • na. Subject: RISEN FROM THE DEAD? Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:47:36 • HAS HE TRULY RISEN FROM THE DEAD? OR ARE HIS SUPPORTERS PRESENTING US WITH ANOTHER BABA PRESIDENT KABILA CHAPTER WHEN IT EMERGED A WEEK LATER THAT THE RUMOURS WERE TRUE AND HE HAD IN FACT BEEN ASSASSINATED?
CLARABELLA, MANCHESTER • na. Subject: DEAD MAN'S BLUFF Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:07:25 • What are the leaders of the SADC region up to?
Tsvangarai takes cover in the Boer's encampment and now Mwanawasa playing dead man's bluff? Did the bank automatically shut down his account as is the norm? Did his wife have to face dozens of mourners with flowers? Was it a wake up call for the white farmers from Zimbabwe to start making immediate plans to move on?
All this attention seeking! the possibilities are endless.
these things happen in three. I am already wondering who the third one demanding the world's attention instead of dedicating themselves to getting on with running their own business will be?
If you have surely departed Cde Levy then MYDDSRIP.
You will always be remembered for your stance.
Hot Zedian • mikebandah2002@yahoo.co.uk Subject: DEAD MAN'S BLUFF Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:56:39 • It painful dat we could lose such a courageous man...he feared nobody! If he truly is dead..may his soul rest in peace! The ZED republic will surely miss him! But successors abound!
snoopy and dat red baron • na. Subject: DEAD MAN'S BLUFF Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:00:02 • Didnt the same thing happen when the original big daddy President Kabila died? Everyone denied it for days!
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