Zambia leader gets medical check-up

LUSAKA

Zambia President Edgar Lungu has undergone a “routine” medical check up at the country’s military hospital.

“President Lungu undertook a baseline health parameters routine check-up at Maina Soko Military Hospital and attended the dentistry at Lusaka Trust Hospital,” said a statement issued by his spokesman Amos Chanda.

“Doctors have given him a clean bill of health. His personal physicians interviewed him yesterday as part of the process that he completed today.”

During his campaign for presidency which ended almost two weeks ago, his opponents raised allegations of Mr Lungu’s “ill-health”.

Privately-owned daily The Post and several online media outlets had a field day quoting a supposedly leaked medical report signed by a doctor indicating Mr Lungu had been diagnosed with a renal disease, allegations he described as “false and malicious”.

Zambian politicians rarely discuss their health status. He later challenged his opponents to a medical test, which move never came to pass despite exciting the opposition.

With two presidents having died in office — Levy Mwanawasa in 2008 and Michael Sata 2014 — Zambians have been more demanding to know the health status of their leaders reasoning the age of the candidates was a campaign issue.

Meanwhile, Mr Lungu, 58, was set to make his first trip to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday after he was inaugurated on Sunday.

He would leave the southern African nation’s first female Vice President Inonge Wina in charge, said the presidency.

Ms Wina replaced Guy Scott.

Mr Lungu and Dr Scott shared a bitter relationship after Sata's death.