Levy Mwanawasa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Levy Mwanawasa
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Mwanawasa on 16 March 2006
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| 3rd President of Zambia | |
| In office 2 January 2002 – 19 August 2008 |
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| Vice President | Enoch Kavindele Nevers Mumba Lupando Mwape Rupiah Banda |
| Preceded by | Frederick Chiluba |
| Succeeded by | Rupiah Banda |
| 4th Vice-President of Zambia | |
| In office 7 November 1991 – 3 July 1994 |
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| President | Frederick Chiluba |
| Preceded by | Office restored |
| Succeeded by | Godfrey Miyanda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 September 1948 Mufulira, Loangwa, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) |
| Died | 19 August 2008 (aged 59) Clamart, France |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Resting place | Embassy Park, Lusaka |
| Political party | MMD |
| Spouse | Maureen Mwanawasa |
| Children | 7 |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa (born 3 September 1948 – died 19 August 2008) was the third president of Zambia. He served as president from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. Mwanawasa is remembered for working hard to stop corruption in Zambia during his time as leader.
Before becoming president, he was the fourth vice-president of Zambia. He held this role from November 1991 to July 1994. He was also a Member of Parliament for the Chifubu area.
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Early Life and Law Career
Levy Mwanawasa was born in Mufulira, which was then called Northern Rhodesia. He was the second of ten children in his family. He studied law at the University of Zambia.
After finishing his studies, he worked at private law firms. In 1978, he started his own law firm called Mwanawasa & Company. In 1985, he worked for the Zambian government as the Solicitor General. However, he returned to his private law practice in 1986.
In 1989, he led the legal team for Lt. Gen Christon Tembo. Tembo was accused of trying to overthrow the government. Mwanawasa helped Tembo win the case. This made Mwanawasa well-known among those who opposed the government at the time.
After Frederick Chiluba became president, he chose Mwanawasa as vice-president in November 1991. Mwanawasa then left his law firm in March 1992.
Car Accident
In 1990, before his political party's meeting, many people thought Mwanawasa would become the leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). But he decided not to, saying he was too young and didn't have enough experience. Instead, he chose to run to be a member of parliament, and he won by a lot of votes.
On 8 December 1991, Mwanawasa was in a very bad car crash. His helper died right away. Mwanawasa was badly hurt and had to be flown to Johannesburg, South Africa, for medical care. He stayed in the hospital for three months. One lasting effect of the accident was that his speech became a bit slurred. An investigation was started to find out if the accident was an attempt to harm him.
Political Journey
Mwanawasa served as vice-president until he resigned in July 1994. In 1996, he tried to become the president of his party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy. However, he lost to Chiluba. After this, Mwanawasa left politics for a while, until the 2001 election.
2001 Presidential Election
In August 2001, the main committee of the MMD party chose Mwanawasa as their candidate for the 2001 election. He won the election, which was held on 27 December 2001, with 29% of the votes. This was enough to win because of Zambia's voting system. He beat ten other candidates, including two former vice-presidents.
However, some opposition parties did not agree with the election results. They said there were problems with the election, like unfair media coverage. In January 2002, three opposition candidates asked the Supreme Court to cancel Mwanawasa's win. The court agreed that there were problems, but in February 2005, it decided that these problems did not change the final results.
First Term as President
In February 2003, President Mwanawasa tried to bring different political groups together. He appointed some opposition lawmakers to his cabinet, which is like the president's team of advisors and ministers. For example, he made Dipak Patel the Minister of Trade.
In January 2005, Mwanawasa said sorry to the country for not being able to solve the problem of poverty in Zambia. At that time, about 75% of people in Zambia lived on less than $1 a day, which is considered extreme poverty by the United Nations.
He was chosen as the president of the MMD party for another five-year term in 2005.
2006 Presidential Election
Mwanawasa ran for president again in the election on 28 September 2006. His main opponent was Michael Sata. Mwanawasa's re-election was confirmed on 2 October; he received 42.98% of the votes.
He was sworn in for his second term on 3 October. A few days later, he chose a new cabinet and appointed Rupiah Banda as his vice-president.
Key Policies and Achievements
Many foreign investors liked Mwanawasa because he worked hard to fight corruption. During his time as president, Zambia received more money from other countries. The economy grew mainly because of minerals.
Mwanawasa's plans helped to lower prices and improve life for some poor people. Tourists and farmers from Zimbabwe also came to Zambia, which helped the economy. Mwanawasa made the town of Livingstone, near Victoria Falls, a popular place for tourists. Zambia also received a lot of help and debt relief from other countries. Overall, the economy grew by about 6% each year.
Mwanawasa was one of the first African leaders to openly criticize President Robert Mugabe of neighboring Zimbabwe. When Mwanawasa died, the Zimbabwean opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was one of the first to express his sadness.
Health Concerns
In April 2006, Mwanawasa had a mild stroke.
On 29 June 2008, while at a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Mwanawasa was taken to the hospital because he had a second stroke. He was then flown to France for more medical care. Doctors said they had stopped the bleeding in his brain, but he was in a serious condition. Vice-President Banda said Mwanawasa's condition was stable. He also mentioned that Mwanawasa had high blood pressure before and was a very hard worker, which might have been a factor.
Because Mwanawasa was unable to perform his duties, Vice-President Banda became the acting president.
Reports of Death
On 3 July 2008, some news reports said that Mwanawasa had died in a hospital in Paris. However, the Zambian government quickly said these reports were false. They asked the media to be more careful with their reporting. Even the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, mistakenly called for a moment of silence for Mwanawasa, but his government quickly apologized for the misunderstanding.
Treatment in France
Mwanawasa was treated at the Percy Military Hospital near Paris. On 7 July 2008, Vice-President Banda said that Mwanawasa was still stable. He also said Mwanawasa had a small surgery to help with his breathing, which was successful.
Some people in Zambia, including opposition leaders, questioned the official updates about Mwanawasa's health. They asked for a team of doctors to check on him and share his true condition. However, the government insisted that Mwanawasa was improving and that the government was still working well.
On 24 July, Banda said Mwanawasa was making "steady progress" in his recovery. On 8 August, the Minister of Health said that Mwanawasa's recovery would "indeed be long" because his illness was very serious.
Death of President Mwanawasa
On 18 August, Vice-President Banda announced that Mwanawasa's condition had suddenly gotten worse. He said that urgent medical help was needed. The next day, 19 August, a family member confirmed that Mwanawasa had passed away.
Vice-President Banda officially announced Mwanawasa's death on television. He said Mwanawasa died that morning at 10:30 AM in Paris. Banda expressed great sadness and announced a national mourning period for seven days, which was later extended to 21 days. Levy Mwanawasa was the first President of Zambia to die while still in office.
Reactions to His Death
Many people in Zambia and around the world were saddened by Mwanawasa's death. Michael Sata, an opposition leader, called it a "national disaster." The country went into mourning, with flags flying at half-staff. Public events were cancelled, and joyous music was not played. This showed how much people loved their president.
Former President Kenneth Kaunda praised Mwanawasa, saying he was "a true servant of the people." He added that Mwanawasa "observed the rule of law and he gallantly fought graft in all its forms."
Funeral Arrangements
Acting President Banda announced the plans for Mwanawasa's state funeral on 21 August. After his body was brought back to Zambia, it would lie in state at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. This allowed the public to pay their respects. His body was then taken to different provincial capitals across Zambia from 25 to 29 August.
Mwanawasa was buried on 3 September at Embassy Park in Lusaka. This date was chosen to be on his 60th birthday. Leaders from 14 African countries attended the funeral, including Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. In her speech, Mwanawasa's wife, Maureen, said he "died on duty" and was a "sad man as no one seemed to appreciate your sacrifices."
International Tributes
- African Union – The African Union said Mwanawasa's death was "a great loss" for Zambia and all of Africa. They remembered him for helping to solve conflicts in Africa.
- Commonwealth of Nations – The Secretary-General said Mwanawasa was "deeply devoted" to the Commonwealth's goals of development, democracy, and human rights.
France – President Nicolas Sarkozy sent his deepest condolences to Mwanawasa's family and the people of Zambia.
Kenya – President Mwai Kibaki said Mwanawasa played a key role in Zambia's move towards multi-party politics.
Namibia – President Hifikepunye Pohamba sent his deepest condolences to Mwanawasa's family and the government of Zambia.
South Africa – South African President Thabo Mbeki said Mwanawasa helped to strengthen unity in the region.
Tanzania – President Jakaya Kikwete called Mwanawasa "a great leader, a true pan-Africanist and a champion of the poor."
Uganda – Uganda's State Minister for Foreign Affairs said Ugandans "share Zambia's sorrow."
United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Mwanawasa was at the forefront of Zambian politics during a time of great change. The General Assembly also held a moment of silence for him.
United States – President George W. Bush said Mwanawasa worked hard to support good governance and spoke out against human rights abuses.
Zimbabwe – President Robert Mugabe said Mwanawasa was "a very courageous leader" who wanted to change his country and the region.
Personal Life
Levy Mwanawasa married Maureen Mwanawasa on 7 May 1987. They were married until his death. He had seven children: Miriam, Patrick, Lorna, Chipokota Mwanawasa, Matolo, Lubona, and Ntembe. Miriam and Patrick were from his first marriage.
His wife, Maureen, was a Jehovah's Witness. However, she was no longer considered a member because of her active role in politics, which is against the faith's beliefs.
Mwanawasa became a Baptist in 2005 and was baptized at Twin Palm Baptist Church in Lusaka.
In September 2007, Mwanawasa visited Arkansas in the United States. He gave a speech at Harding University and received an honorary degree. He also spoke at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. There, he talked about Zambia's development, HIV/AIDS in Africa, and President Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
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See also
In Spanish: Levy Mwanawasa para niños
