A sick man's contest

The President is probably unfit to continue and his main opponents are either ill or accused of corruption

Everyone seems convinced that President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, who suffered a stroke a month ago, will not resume his duties. Inside his Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) the succession battle is heating up and luck seems to favour Vice-President Rupiah Bwezani Banda, the only one who has stayed out of the succession campaigns. He is 71 and his rivals malign him as an old man with no backbone, pushed into the ring by political vultures who want to benefit from his presidency.

Article Tags:
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Angola, Benny Tetamashimba, Katele Kalumba, Frederick Chiluba, Peter Ngandu Magande, Ronnie Shikapwasha, Michael Mabenga, Enoch Percy Kavindele, Michael Chilufya Sata, South Africa, Hakainde Hichilema

end of preview

To read the rest of the article you need to either log in or do one of the following:

Subscribe to Africa Confidential Find out more
Purchase this article on its own Find out more

If you have a print subscription already please click here for full access to the website.
If you have already logged in and believe you should have access to this article please contact customer services.