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Article: Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa dies at 59
- Article from:
- AP Online
- Article date:
- August 19, 2008
- Author:
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Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, whose criticism of the political and economic "catastrophe" of neighboring Zimbabwe helped break the traditional silence of African leaders toward one of their own, died Tuesday in France. He was 59.
Mwanawasa, who was hospitalized in Paris after suffering a stroke six weeks ago, had a reputation for integrity and fought corruption in his country, but never managed to lift the Zambian people out of crushing poverty.
Zambia's third president since independence from Britain, Mwanawasa was not bound by the liberation movement ties of older African leaders and was the first among them to criticize Zimbabwe's autocratic President Robert ...