Zambian president hospitalised

LUSAKA – Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa who was rushed to hospital in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, ahead of an African Union summit is being treated for high blood pressure, a Zambian government spokesman said yesterday.

Mwanawasa, 59, was admitted on Sunday after experiencing sharp chest pains, Saeed Eissa, ambulance director for the southern Sinai peninsula, said. “He is still is hospital for treatment.It’s high blood pressure,” Mike Mulongoti, Zambia’s chief government spokesman told Reuters on yesterday.The African summit, which opened on yesterday, is expected to focus largely on the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.President Robert Mugabe was sworn in in Zimbabwe on Sunday for a new term after a one-candidate election on Friday which observers said was scarred by violence and intimidation.Mwanawasa, current chairman of the Southern African Development Community, has been one of the more vocal critics of the veteran Zimbabwean leader and had expressed understanding for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai when he pulled out of the presidential poll last week.Nampa-Reuters”He is still is hospital for treatment.It’s high blood pressure,” Mike Mulongoti, Zambia’s chief government spokesman told Reuters on yesterday.The African summit, which opened on yesterday, is expected to focus largely on the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.President Robert Mugabe was sworn in in Zimbabwe on Sunday for a new term after a one-candidate election on Friday which observers said was scarred by violence and intimidation.Mwanawasa, current chairman of the Southern African Development Community, has been one of the more vocal critics of the veteran Zimbabwean leader and had expressed understanding for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai when he pulled out of the presidential poll last week.Nampa-Reuters