SW Radio Africa (London)
3 July 2008
Zambia's chief government spokesman Mike Mulongoti has denied South African media reports that President Levy Mwanawasa had died in a French hospital Thursday.
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I believe Mwanawasa is not dead but probably not in a good condition as is being stated by the Zambian Government. Mwanawasa has strived to remain well over the years and probably his health wasn't stable enough for him to handle the pressure of being a president. But why should Mbeki look forward to his death? Its evident he gets along with Mugabe so well that if Mwanawasa whose being looking out for Zmbabwe died, then no african leader would speak against the wrongs of Mugabe. Typical isn't it. I suggest Mbeki should join other leaders in praying for our leader but all the same the Zambian government should be frank and open about what is happening to him.I think we have had enough speculation.
Hey, Thabo is not looking forward to Mwanawasa's. if you followed his minute-of-silence fiasco, he said he was informed by the executive secretary of SADC of the Zambian leader's alleged demise; and Thabo suggested the best thing he could do then-a minute of silence. I guess the question is, what exactly is going on with the Zambian head of state? The information from the government is merely fuelling speculation because they are not saying anything beyond 'he is alive and stable'. Please, Mr Banda, mike and everyone else in cabinet, tell us the truth about the President's condition. By sticking to the line of 'alive and stable' you are making Zambians more anxious instead of calming their nerves. For Levy, I wish you well. May you return home in good condition.
Taking into consideration that Zambia as a nation has never faced such a crisis in which a president dies, there should still, however,be a way of handling the matter well so that people, especially the Zambians, are not left into suspense for a long time. Quite okay, the government is trying by all means to bring calm to the nation, but what they have to note is that the story is already out to the public. And because of that, a lot of speculations have risen. Therefore, if the government is denying the president's death, while in the mean time, probably, the rumor is true, then they are not doing justice to the people at.
Their method of approaching this issue would have worked only if the news had not been leaked in the first place.
My point here is that, it is high time the Zambian government told us the truth, no matter what it is.
Who is telling the truth about Mwanawasa's health. Can we know the truth please