#Zambia is On Auto-Pilot – Mweetwa | Zambia Reports:zambiareports/2013/08/08/zambia-is-on-auto-pilot-mweetwa/ Zambia’s opposition demanded details about President Michael Sata’s whereabouts Wednesday, amid rumours he is in London receiving medical treatment with United Party for National Development (UPND) deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa saying the country is on auto pilot. Although some reports indicate that Sata is in London, Zambia Reports has established that the Head of State is in India being treated for an alleged cocktail of illness. The AFP reports that Sata, 76, last week temporarily handed power to his finance minister, Alexander Chikwanda, before embarking on a trip to London. “We have an absentee leader,” said Cornelius Mweetwa, of the United Party for National Development. “We are on autopilot as a country.” But the government has denied suggestions he is there to receive treatment, with Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba on Monday saying it is a private visit. “He left for London for a private visit and there is no need to speculate because senior government officials were at the airport to see him off,” said Kabimba, according to local media. He added that Sata would be back soon. However Kabimba’s statement conflicts that of acting chief government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda who recently said the President was in India. Zambia Reports sources at State House have confirmed that President Sata is India after his health deteriorated following a hectic campaign schedule he recently undertook. Medical experts have recommended extreme rest for President Sata. Zambia is a conservative nation, and the health of the president is not openly discussed, particularly by government officials although one of his major problems is something related to kidneys and his previous heart surgery. President Sata is also said to be suffering from throat cancer which was caused as a result of his previous chain smoking years. He quit smoking after suffering a heart attack while he was in the opposition. Little was said about the wellbeing of president Levy Mwanawasa before he died in office in 2008. Sata’s term expires in 2016, and some leaders in his party have been urging him to consider running for re-election despite his advanced age.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 10:04:49 +0000
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