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LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who is being treated in a Paris hospital after a stroke, needs surgery to improve his breathing, Vice President Rupiah Banda said on Monday.
Mwanawasa, 59, was rushed to hospital on June 29 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after suffering a stroke just before an African Union summit. He was later transferred to Paris for treatment.
Banda said in a statement Mwanawasa required a “minor operation” to improve his breathing following a review of his condition at a military hospital in France.
“The rest of the treatment remains unchanged and Dr Mwanawasa continues to be in the Intensive Care Unit of the Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France.”
Zambia last week dismissed South African media reports that Mwanawasa had died.
The Zambian leader is a favourite of the International Monetary Fund and other Western donors, who extended billions of dollars in debt relief after he cracked down on government spending and launched an anti-graft drive.
Mwanawasa is an outspoken critic of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. He chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has mediated between Mugabe and the opposition to try to end a political and economic crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s neighbours have been flooded with refugees after the once-prosperous nation’s economy collapsed.
Mwanawasa suffered a mild stroke in 2006 but said before being re-elected that year that he was fit to stand for office.
© Reuters 2008. All Rights Reserved
July 7, 2008 at 5:15 pm
SADC Diplomats Unite in Praying for Mwanawasa
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
7 July 2008
Posted to the web 7 July 2008
SOME Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states’ diplomats accredited to Zambia yesterday pledged to ensure that their countries joined in praying for President Mwanawasa’s quick recovery.
Meanwhile, Vice President Rupiah Banda has appealed to Zambians countrywide to continue praying for the president’s quick recovery.
The SADC diplomats announced in Ndola yesterday that they would officially communicate with their governments to ask citizens in their respective countries to join their Zambian counterparts in praying for Dr Mwanawasa’s recovery.
A diplomats’ delegation led by Botswana’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Tuelonyana Oliphant, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima in Ndola.
The diplomats stated that the entire SADC region was saddened by Dr Mwanawasa’s sickness.
“We are concerned about the continued sickness of President Mwanawasa who is also the SADC chairman. We share a lot of things in common.
“We are amazed with the manner in which the church, different political parties and the media have been objectively handling issues surrounding the Zambian president’s sickness,” Ms Oliphant said.
And South Africa’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Moses Chikane thanked the people of Zambia for accepting President Thabo Mbeki’s apology over the statement he made that President Mwanawasa had died in Paris.
Mr Chikane commended the Zambian media for exhibiting high level of professionalism in the manner it was reporting President Mwanawasa’s sickness.
Other diplomats present were Tanzanian High Commissioner to Zambia Justa Nyange, her Namibian counterpart, Salomon Wiitibool and Angolan Embassy Counsellor Pedro Kissoka.
And Mr Mbulakulima thanked the SADC member states for partnering with Zambia in her quest for development and the creation of a sustainable regional integration.
Mr Mbulakulima, who was flanked by Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Jennifer Musonda, said African countries needed to work together through the South-to-South cooperation and maximising their capacity for potential development.
“Colonial heritage brought about fragmentation of the African continent and its rich resources. By being surrounded by eight countries Zambia no longer feels disadvantaged for being landlocked,” he said.
The five diplomats were representing their colleagues from the 14 member-SADC regional grouping and held a meeting with the minister at Cabinet office in Ndola.
The vice president yesterday ended his two-day working visit to the Copperbelt with a call on Zambians to continue praying for the president’s quick recovery.
Mr Banda, who shared a light moment with jubilant MMD cadres at Ndola International Airport before his departure for Lusaka, thanked Zambians for being united in praying for Dr Mwanawasa’s quick recovery.
Mr Banda on Saturday officially opened the 2008 Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF), representing President Mwanawasa who is receiving treatment in Paris, France.
Mr Banda was seen off at Ndola International Airport by ZITF Chairman Phesto Musonda, senior government and MMD officials, who included, Finance and National Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande his Commerce, Trade and Industry counterpart Felix Mutati and Mr Mbulakulima.
Others were Ndola Mayor Anthony Katongo and MMD provincial chairman Joseph Chilambwe and district chairman Kephas Katongo.
The vice president said it was important that Zambians continued to pray for the president so that he could heal.
And Senior Chief Shakumbila of the Sala people in Mumbwa wished the president well.
“We know that illnesses are unexpected, but this particular one has come at a very wrong time, when there are a lot of pertinent issues which require his attention, especially the post election impasse in Zimbabwe,” Chief Shakumbila said.
President Mwanawasa is today expected to undergo a medical review by specialist doctors in France.
Information and Broadcasting Services minister Mike Mulongoti said an update on President Mwanawasa’s health would be issued today.