Zambian president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, the 59-year-old Zambian leader passed away yesterday (19 August) in a Paris hospital, after suffering a stroke during an African Union (AU) summit in Egypt, in June this year. At that time, reports had surfaced that Mwanawasa had actually passed away but that was not true. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his sadness on the death of Mwanawasa. In a statement released by his office, the Secretary-General says Mwanawasa was at the forefront of Zambian politics at a time of exceptional challenge and change in his country. He also noted Mwanawasa’s key role in the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa as well as his firm stance as Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson on the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.

Mwanawasa was one of the first African leaders to openly criticise Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in the period after the election results in Zimbabwe were delayed from being announced. For now, Zambia’s Vice President, Rupiah Banda, is expected to take over as acting president.

The InTheNews.co.za team would like to passes on its condolences to the Mwanawasa family. Our prayers are with you. We have lost a great leader.