GOVERNMENT has said former Western Province MMD chairperson Simasiku Namakando has recovered and will be discharged from hospital soon.

Ministry of Health acting spokesperson Maximilian Bweupe said in an interview yesterday that Mr Namakando was due to have been discharged yesterday but doctors decided to observe him.

"I can state that Mr Namakando is now fine and was even supposed to be discharged today only but doctors wanted to observe him and make some few consultations.

"It was a confirmed case of malaria and he has responded well to treatment," Dr Bweupe said.

Mr Namakando was admitted to Lewanika General Hospital on Sunday and was put on quinine.

The former provincial chairperson had not been feeling well for the past two weeks contrary to reports in some sections of the media that he fell sick after meeting President Rupiah Banda.

He has since promised to issue a statement after being discharged from hospital.