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Michael Sata, Zambia's president, has died, say reports Zambia's president Michael Sata dies in London
(about 3 hours later)
President Michael Sata of Zambia has died in London, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, three private Zambian media outlets have said. The Zambian president, Michael Sata, has died in London where he was being treated in a private hospital for an undisclosed illness, the Zambian government has confirmed.
Reports on the private Muzi television station and two websites, Zambia Reports and Zambian Watchdog, said the southern African nation’s cabinet was about to meet. Sata died shortly after 11pm on Tuesday at London’s King Edward VII hospital, the cabinet secretary Roland Msiska said in a statement.
Government officials gave no immediate comment. The death of Zambia’s president would necessitate an election within 90 days. Sata’s wife, Christine Kaseba, and his son, Mulenga Sata, were at the 77-year-old president’s side when he died, Msiska said.
The reports said Sata died on Tuesday evening at London’s King Edward VII hospital. The hospital declined to comment. The statement said: “It is with a very heavy heart that I address you today, to inform the nation that our beloved president and leader, His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, has passed on.
“President Sata’s demise is deeply regretted. During this difficult period, I urge all of you to remain calm, united and peaceful during this very difficult period.”
Under Zambia’s constitution the country will have to hold an election for a new leader within 90 days of the death of the president.
Sata, 77, left Zambia for medical treatment on 19 October accompanied by his wife and family members, according to a brief government statement that gave no further details.Sata, 77, left Zambia for medical treatment on 19 October accompanied by his wife and family members, according to a brief government statement that gave no further details.
There has been no official update on his condition and the acting president, Edgar Lungu, had to lead celebrations last week to mark the landlocked nation’s 50th anniversary of independence from Britain. There had been no official update on his condition and the acting president, Edgar Lungu, led celebrations last week to mark the landlocked nation’s 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.
Concern over Sata’s health has been mounting in Africa’s second-largest copper producer since June when he disappeared from the public eye without explanation and was reported to be getting medical treatment in Israel.Concern over Sata’s health has been mounting in Africa’s second-largest copper producer since June when he disappeared from the public eye without explanation and was reported to be getting medical treatment in Israel.
He missed a scheduled speech at the UN general assembly in September amid reports that he had fallen ill in his New York hotel. A few days before that he had attended the opening of parliament in Lusaka, joking: “I am not dead.”He missed a scheduled speech at the UN general assembly in September amid reports that he had fallen ill in his New York hotel. A few days before that he had attended the opening of parliament in Lusaka, joking: “I am not dead.”
Sata has not been seen in public since he returned to Zambia from New York in late September. Sata had not been seen in public since he returned to Zambia from New York in late September.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report. The prime minister of Uganda, Ruhakana Rugunda, and the president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, were among the first world leaders to express their condolences.