By Chisomo Phiri
LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-Former President of Zambia, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, has died at his home on Friday, March 11, 2022 after a short battle with colon cancer.
Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, disclosed this in a televised address shortly after the news of the passing of his predecessor.
Banda was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and had been receiving medical treatment.
Born on February 19, 1937, he became the country’s fourth president who remained in power from 2008 to 2011.
Prior to that, he held senior diplomatic posts under first President Kenneth Kaunda.
During the presidency of Kenneth Kaunda, Rupiah Banda was active in politics as a member of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) before he was appointed as vice-president by President Levy Mwanawasa in October 2006, following the latter’s re-election.
He took over Mwanawasa’s presidential responsibilities after Mwanawasa suffered a stroke in June 2008, and following Mwanawasa’s death in August 2008, he became the country’s acting president.
As the candidate of the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), he narrowly won the October 2008 presidential by election.
His tenure was marred by allegations of graft and Zambia’s parliament stripped Banda of immunity from prosecution, clearing the way for investigators to arrest him for corruption-related offences.
Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front defeated Mr. Banda in the September 2011 presidential election, and Sata accordingly succeeded Banda as president on 23 September 2011.
In 2013, Banda stood accused of abuse of office, corrupt acquisition of public property and misappropriation of public funds involving more than $11 million during his tenure as president, but was never convicted in a court of law and did not serve any jail time.
