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History of Zambia (1964–present): Difference between revisions
From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
History of Zambia (1964–present) (view source)
Revision as of 15:41, 13 October 2016
, 13 October 2016→Banda: 2008-2011
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==Banda: 2008-2011== | ==Banda: 2008-2011== | ||
{{Main|Rupiah Banda}} | {{Main|Rupiah Banda}} | ||
[[File:Rupiah Banda.jpg|thumb|right|Rupiah Banda in 2009]] | |||
After Mwanawasa suffered a stroke while attending an African Union summit in Egypt on June 29, 2008, [[Rupiah Banda]] became acting President. He subsequently delivered a series of optimistic but vague updates on Mwanawasa's health. These updates were greeted with widespread skepticism, but Banda insisted that he had "no reason to lie".<ref>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080725114637910C642354 "Mwanawasa's condition 'promising'"], Sapa-AFP (''IOL''), July 25, 2008.</ref> | After Mwanawasa suffered a stroke while attending an African Union summit in Egypt on June 29, 2008, [[Rupiah Banda]] became acting President. He subsequently delivered a series of optimistic but vague updates on Mwanawasa's health. These updates were greeted with widespread skepticism, but Banda insisted that he had "no reason to lie".<ref>[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080725114637910C642354 "Mwanawasa's condition 'promising'"], Sapa-AFP (''IOL''), July 25, 2008.</ref> | ||
Mwanawasa never recovered from his stroke and died while still hospitalized in Paris on August 19, 2008. Expressing "immense grief and deep sorrow", Banda announced his death to the nation and declared a seven-day period of national mourning, urging Zambians to "remain calm and mourn our President with dignity".<ref>[http://www.statehouse.gov.zm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=414&Itemid=47 "STATEMENT BY HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT, MR. RUPIAH BANDA, MP., ON THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT"], Zambian Presidency website, 18 August 2008.</ref> Banda officially took over as acting President prior to a new presidential election, which according to the constitution should be called within 90 days of Mwanawasa's death.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/08/20/europe/OUKWD-UK-ZAMBIA-PRESIDENT.php "Zambian VP takes charge"], Reuters (''International Herald Tribune''), August 20, 2008.</ref> | Mwanawasa never recovered from his stroke and died while still hospitalized in Paris on August 19, 2008. Expressing "immense grief and deep sorrow", Banda announced his death to the nation and declared a seven-day period of national mourning, urging Zambians to "remain calm and mourn our President with dignity".<ref>[http://www.statehouse.gov.zm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=414&Itemid=47 "STATEMENT BY HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT, MR. RUPIAH BANDA, MP., ON THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT"], Zambian Presidency website, 18 August 2008.</ref> Banda officially took over as acting President prior to a new presidential election, which according to the constitution should be called within 90 days of Mwanawasa's death.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/08/20/europe/OUKWD-UK-ZAMBIA-PRESIDENT.php "Zambian VP takes charge"], Reuters (''International Herald Tribune''), August 20, 2008.</ref> | ||
As President, Rupiah Banda was focused on economic development, travelling abroad to promote Zambian trade to other world leaders. In December 2010 he travelled to Egypt to meet with President Hosni Mubarak.<ref>[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/2881/Business/Economy/Zambia-eyes-Egyptian-investment.aspx Zambia eyes Egyptian investment – Economy – Business – Ahram Online]. English.ahram.org.eg (2010-12-30). Retrieved on 2011-06-21.</ref> | |||
In mid-2009 it was announced that the MMD National Executive Committee had chosen Banda as the party's candidate for the [[Zambian presidential election, 2011|2011 presidential election]]. Some criticized this, arguing that the nomination process should be open to other candidates; Mpombo, the Defense Minister, resigned from his post in July 2009 while criticizing the process as undemocratic. President Banda has since welcomed others to challenge him for the nomination at the MMC Conventions taking place across the country.<ref>[http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/01/10/im-ready-challenged-banda/ ] {{wayback|url=http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/01/10/im-ready-challenged-banda/ |date=20110113080745 }}</ref> | |||
After taking office, Banda dismantled much of the anticorruption effort put into place by his predecessor, Mwanawasa.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bearak|first=Barry|title=Frederick Chiluba, Former President of Zambia, Dies at 68|work=The New York Times|date=20 June 2011|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/world/africa/20chiluba.html}}</ref> | |||
Banda's Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations was [[Dickson Jere]]. | |||
==Sata: 2011-2014== | ==Sata: 2011-2014== | ||
