Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has expressed sorrow at the death of Zambian leader Levy Mwanawasa, one of his most outspoken critics in the Southern African region, state radio reported on Wednesday.
“President Robert Mugabe has sent a message of condolence to Zambia and the Mwanawasa family following the untimely death Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa yesterday [Tuesday],” state radio reported.
“In a statement to the Zambian Vice-President, Mr Rupiah Banda, President Mugabe said he had learnt with profound shock and sorrow of the untimely death of a brother and a colleague.
“President Robert Mugabe would like to convey his heartfelt condolences on behalf of government and the people of Zimbabwe,” the report said.
Mugabe said Zimbabwe “shared Zambia’s sorrow during this period of mourning”, the report added.
Mwanawasa caused severe embarrassment to Mugabe by likening the state of his economy to that of the “sinking Titanic”.
When other Southern African leaders kept quiet over Mugabe’s re-election — after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the contest because of violence against his supporters — Mwanawasa described their silence as “scandalous”.
His outspoken criticism of Mugabe — contrasted with the quiet diplomacy of South African President Thabo Mbeki — won him the enmity of the Harare regime, who portrayed him as a puppet of old colonial power Britain.
Mwanawasa (59), who had battled poor health for many years, died on Tuesday.
He suffered his second stroke in a little over two years while in Egypt at the end of June for an African Union summit.
He was initially treated in Egypt but was then flown to France where he underwent surgery on Monday after his condition deteriorated. — AFP