Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda has died

Former Zambian President, Rupiah Banda, has died aged 85. Banda was the nation’s fourth democratically elected President and led Zambia from 2008 till 2011. He was recognized with colon most cancers in 2020.

Throughout Banda’s presidency, he labored to strengthen the nation’s economic system in addition to the healthcare and training sectors. That retirement didn’t final lengthy, nevertheless. In 2002, he joined the Motion for Multi-Get together Democracy and in 2006 was named vice-president after President Mwanawasa defeated Michael Sata in Zambia’s presidential election.

Quickly after Banda grew to become president in 2008, he was accused of corruption and nepotism whereas on the identical time winding down his predecessor’s anti-corruption process pressure, finally disbanding it altogether.

He was sharply criticized, as an illustration, for permitting the acquittal of former President Frederick Chiluba to face with out enchantment and was characterised by Sata as a “pal of thieves.” Banda was suspected of embezzling greater than $11 million (€10.08 million) of state funds throughout his tenure.

In 2013, he was stripped of his immunity however was by no means convicted of any crimes. Banda was recognized with colon most cancers in 2020 and had been receiving medical therapy on the time of his loss of life.