President Mwanawasa passed away today in a Paris hospital, aged 59. Vice-President Rupiah Banda, who I personally met in February, is expected to be announced as the acting leader. He is a close friend of Chief Mukuni and I was invited to meet him during his visit to Mukuni Village. President Mwanawasa was renowned for his integrity and his fight against corruption and most recently for strongly criticizing Zimbabwe’s violent election campaign. This is a great loss to the people of Zambia.

President Mwanawasa (photo courtesy of Daylife)