The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
21 August 2008
editorial
Zambia has been plunged into national mourning. The death of President Levy Mwanawasa comes at a time when he was playing a key role in the affairs of his country, the southern African region and the continent as a whole. In fact, the Zambian leader fell ill while attending an African Union Summit in Egypt, which tackled an issue that had become more of a personal crusade for him.
It's the Zimbabwean political crisis, which was exacerbated by President Robert Mugabe's defiance of the continent and the international community to go ahead with an election run-off in which he competed against himself.
President Mwanawasa will be remembered for his blunt criticism of Mr Mugabe over the Zimbabwe debacle as chairman of the Southern African Development Community. Here was a man who was not only committed to strengthening democracy in his own country, but was also keen to help put out a fire in a neighbour's home by pushing for negotiations to resolve the impasse in Harare.
The accolades have been fast in coming, with our own President, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, lauding the fallen Zambian leader as one who will be remembered for his steadfast defence of basic human rights and democracy in Africa.
Though engulfed in deep grief, Africa and the whole world expect Zambia to carry out a dignified transition to a new leader. The best tribute Zambians can add to Mr Mwanawasa's legacy is to ensure that the next leader is chosen in a peaceful, free and fair poll to enhance the country's fledgelling multiparty democracy.
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