Zambian President Lungu taken ill – Report

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Zambian President Lungu taken ill – Report

9:52 CAT | 20 Mar 2018

Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has not been seen in public for more than a week, fueling reports that he is bedridden with a worsening stomach ache.Local media reported on Tuesday that the president’s condition has deteriorated so rapidly that a bishop was summoned to State House last Sunday to pray for him.

Quoting sources, the Zambian Observer reported that the 61-year-old’s intestines are shrinking since he refused to eat and further suggested that he may be airlifted abroad for medical attention at any time.

President Lungu collapsed on March 8 while attending events at Heroes Stadium marking International Women’s Day.

Spokesperson Amos Chanda revealed shortly afterwards that Lungu had been diagnosed with malaria but stopped short of explaining whether this was before or after the president had collapsed.

Addressing the crowds later, President Lungu acknowledged that he was not feeling well but played it down as a situation “that should not worry the nation”.

Meanwhile, sources say his physical infirmity may have originated from his long address to parliament while others put it down to issues of alcoholism dating back 40 years.

The Zambian Observer said in view of the uncertainty surrounding the Lungu presidency, the country’s security and intelligence chiefs have been meeting over the situation.

Zambia has a history of sick presidents holding office.

Lungu’s immediate predecessor Michael Sata had been sick for several months before dying in October 2014.

Levy Mwanawasa, Zambia’s third president died midway into his second term in office in 2008 after a history of stroke.

Source: APA