Zambia ruling party to meet over Mwanawasa illness

LUSAKA – Zambia’s ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy will meet to discuss the future of ailing President Levy Mwanawasa after suggestions he be replaced as its president, a senior party official said yesterday. Mwanawasa, 59, was rushed to hospital last month after suffering a stroke before an African Union summit in Egypt and he has not left hospital since.

Officials are discreet about his condition. The Zambian leader’s illness has fuelled speculation he might not be able to return to his duties and prompted demands that he be examined by doctors to determine his fitness to remain as head of the party and country. Michael Mabenga, the MMD’s chairman, told the state-run Zanis news agency that the party’s national executive committee would soon convene to deal with the mat ter, pledging that members would be allowed to speak openly.

“The party feels that it is prudent to openly discuss the issues that have threatened to divide the party ... behind closed doors,” Mabenga was quoted as saying. He did not say when the meeting would occur. One junior minister in the cabinet has called for Mwanawasa to surrender the party presidency in order to ease his burden if and when he resumes state presidential duties.

Mwanawasa, who suffered a mild stroke in 2006, could be forced to step down as Zambia’s leader if parliament determined he was incapacitated. Vice President Rupiah Banda would then take over as acting president before elections were called.