Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUSAKA825
2008-08-19 12:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lusaka
Cable title:
GRZ ANNOUNCES DEATH OF PRESIDENT LEVY PATRICK
how-toO 191212Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6145 INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS LUSAKA 000825
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/S; PARIS AND LONDON FOR AF WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: GRZ ANNOUNCES DEATH OF PRESIDENT LEVY PATRICK
MWANAWASA
REF: A. LUSAKA 817
B. LUSAKA 777
C. LUSAKA 734
UNCLAS LUSAKA 000825
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/S; PARIS AND LONDON FOR AF WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: GRZ ANNOUNCES DEATH OF PRESIDENT LEVY PATRICK
MWANAWASA
REF: A. LUSAKA 817
B. LUSAKA 777
C. LUSAKA 734
1. President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died early Tuesday
morning in Paris, a visibly distraught Vice President Banda
announced on national television at 1:35 p.m. Lusaka time.
Banda went on to say that there will be seven days of
national mourning, and urged Zambians to pray for the
President and his family.
2. Immediately following the Vice President's announcement,
the Embassy prepared and distrubuted a press release
expressing its condolences. The Zambian population, which
had grown increasingly skeptical of GRZ insistence that the
President was responding well to treatment, will probably
take the news of Mwanawasa's death with genuine sadness but
no real surprise. Post has consulted with government
security officials and does not anticipate any disruptions to
public order or security as a result of Mwanawasa's death.
According to the Constitution, Vice President Banda remains
in charge, but the clock is now ticking for elections, based
on Constitutional guidelines, to be held no later than
November 17, 2008 - 90 days from today.
KOPLOVSKY
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/S; PARIS AND LONDON FOR AF WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: GRZ ANNOUNCES DEATH OF PRESIDENT LEVY PATRICK
MWANAWASA
REF: A. LUSAKA 817
B. LUSAKA 777
C. LUSAKA 734
1. President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died early Tuesday
morning in Paris, a visibly distraught Vice President Banda
announced on national television at 1:35 p.m. Lusaka time.
Banda went on to say that there will be seven days of
national mourning, and urged Zambians to pray for the
President and his family.
2. Immediately following the Vice President's announcement,
the Embassy prepared and distrubuted a press release
expressing its condolences. The Zambian population, which
had grown increasingly skeptical of GRZ insistence that the
President was responding well to treatment, will probably
take the news of Mwanawasa's death with genuine sadness but
no real surprise. Post has consulted with government
security officials and does not anticipate any disruptions to
public order or security as a result of Mwanawasa's death.
According to the Constitution, Vice President Banda remains
in charge, but the clock is now ticking for elections, based
on Constitutional guidelines, to be held no later than
November 17, 2008 - 90 days from today.
KOPLOVSKY