THE Southern African region would miss Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa's "invaluable contribution" to political and economic development, President Thabo Mbeki said Wednesday.
South Africa and the region were "deeply saddened" by the Zambian leader's "untimely" death Tuesday, said Mbeki.
"We must commit ourselves to building upon the foundations he laid as the chairperson of SADC...for the restoration and strengthening of regional political unity and cohesion," he said in a statement.
Mwanawasa, who died aged 59 in a Paris hospital, was until recently chairman of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC). Mbeki only took over the chairmanship at the weekend.
Mwanawasa's legacy in deepening regional economic integration and infrastructure development should also be built on, said Mbeki.
Mbeki is the SADC-appointed chief mediator in power-sharing talks between President Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe's opposition.
AFP/Zim Guardian
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marshall • n/a Subject: mwanawasa Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:40:53 • Mugabe and Mbeki are the ones to blame for accelerating the prematuredeath of one of Africa's finest leaders, if they think Ian is next then they better think again
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:20:12 • As SADC we must shed crocodile tears for sellout african leaders such as this attention-seeking un-African sellout whom the gods had the wisdom to remove from amongst us.
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