Zambian high commissioner to South Africa has said South African President Thabo Mbeki apologized over a public statement he made on Thursday that Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa had died in France, according to Times of Zambia.
Leslie Mbula said in an interview on Friday that Mbeki personally phoned him and apologized to the government and the people of Zambia over the statement.
"The South African president has expressed regret that a statement of that nature was made and having received correct information, he apologized over the matter," said the Zambian diplomat.
The Zambian government Friday requested for an explanation fromthe South African government on the statement attributed to Mbeki that Mwanawasa had passed away.
Mbeki was reported to have asked people to observe a minute of silence when he was speaking at the National Memorial Tribute for victims of violence against foreign nationals and South Africans held at Tshwane City Hall in the capital city of Pretoria on Thursday.
Zambia Thursday denies the death rumor of Mwanawsa after media reports suggested the Zambian president has passed away in Paris.
Speaking in a TV interview, chief government spokesman Mike Mulonguti dismissed the news of Mwanawasa's death as untrue, saying that the president is now still "receiving treatment" in Paris and his condition "remains stable". Mulonguti, who is also Information Minister, said doctors attending to the president are happy with the progress made by Mwanawasa.
BBC, Sky News and other media had on Thursday wrongly reported that Mwanawasa died. The story quoting a Malone Zaza, who claimed to be a Zambian high commission official in South Africa was originally reported by South Africa's Talk Radio 702. Zambian high commissioner to South Africa has denied there is such a person in the high commissioner office.
The 59-year-old president, who suffered from a stroke in April of 2006, was taken to hospital in Egypt on June 29 just before the African Union summit on June 30 and July 1 and then transferred to Paris on June 30.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article