Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa is recovering from a minor stroke at an unspecified London hospital, state-run radio reported on Thursday.
Opposition leaders had been demanding details of Mwanawasa’s condition since he canceled a trip to Zambia’s copper belt to fly to London April 1 for a medical checkup.
Government spokesperson Vernon Mwaanga confirmed for the first time on Thursday the reason for Mwanawasa’s hospital visit and told national radio the president was steadily improving.
Mwanawasa, who has a history of hypertension, plans to run for a second term in elections expected before the end of the year. No dates have been set for the polls.
Mwanawasa, who succeeded the Southern African country’s first democratically elected president, Frederick Chiluba, has been under pressure to reform the Constitution and electoral law since he came to power with just 29% of the vote in 2001.
Debate has centered on whether presidential victories should go to the candidate with the most votes, or only to one able to command at least a simple majority.
There is also considerable pressure for a new regulation to compel presidential candidates to have running mates who will automatically become their vice-president. – Sapa-AP