Mwanawasa rumour probed
2008-07-04 20:03
Pretoria - The origin of false rumours that Zambian President Mwanawasa had died was being investigated, deputy foreign affairs minister Aziz Pahad said on Friday.
He said President Thabo Mbeki, who observed a moments silence for Mwanawasa on Thursday at a tribute to victims of xenophobia, had been given the news just prior to the ceremony by a "top official" of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He said the department was trying to find out whether the source of the rumours, which spread worldwide. The Zambian government had indicated they started in SA.
He said the Zambian people had become "quite agitated".
Mwanawasa, who suffered a stroke on Sunday, was in a stable condition in a Paris hospital.
"We do wish him a speedy recovery, and we do apologise to the Zambian community," Pahad said.
- SAPA