FORMER Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister in the MMD Government Mundia Sikatana has died.

University Teaching Hospital (UTH) public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta confirmed Mr Sikatana's death in an interview yesterday.

Ms Mbangweta said Mr Sikatana, who was a lawyer by profession, died on Thursday around 22:00 hours following an illness. He was 77 years old.

"He was brought here (UTH) on 12th June 2012 and was admitted in our main ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where he died around 22:15 hours yesterday (Thursday)," she said.

During President Levy Mwanawasa's reign, Mr Sikatana was appointed Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister in 2002 until 2006 when he was given the Foreign Affairs portfolio.

He was in 2007 relieved of his duties.

Mr Sikatana is survived by a wife, Monde and five children while funeral gathering is at the family house in Lusaka West, off Mumbwa road.

Meanwhile, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has described the death of the organisation's founding president Fostone Sakala as shocking.

FODEP president Shepherd Chilombe said in Lusaka yesterday that the country had been robbed of a father, democrat and mentor whose services and elderly advice would greatly be missed.

Mr Chilombe, in his message of condolence to the bereaved family, said Reverend Sakala would be remembered for, among other things, his contribution to the formation of FODEP and dedication to its cause until his untimely death on Wednesday.