Mwanawasa was buried in a coffin plated with copper - Zambia's biggest export [AFP]

Regional leaders, including Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president, criticised by Mwanawasa, were among those attending the ceremony on Wednesday.

Thousands of people sat in mourning tents at the parliamentary complex in the capital Lusaka. Flags flew at half mast and businesses, banks and shops closed.

"The flag has been lowered and a gallant fighter is gone, but Zambia must pick up the bits and pieces and forge ahead so that his legacy can live on," said Peter Ndhlovu, a prominent Lusaka pastor.

Political uncertainty

Five air force jets flew overhead and a 21-gun salute honoured Mwanawasa as he was lowered into his grave in a copper-plated coffin.

Millions of Zambians watched the burial broadcast live on state television.

Mwanawasa's death has left Zambia, which is Africa's biggest copper producer, facing political uncertainty.

Rifts are widening in the ruling party, which only narrowly beat the opposition at the last election, raising questions over Mwanawasa's policies which have proved popular with international donors and investors.

Rupiah Banda, Zambia's vice president, is acting president and among over a dozen candidates jostling to become the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy's candidate in elections scheduled for November.

In addition to Banda, Ngandu Magande, the finance minister, is a leading candidate.

China, which has invested heavily in Zambia's mining industry, sent  Yang Jiechi, the Chinese foreign minister, to attend the ceremony.

Thabo Mbeki, South Africa's president, Seretse Khama Ian Khama,  Botswana's leader, and the presidents of Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi also attended the funeral.

'Courageous leader'

Zambian state radio quoted Mugabe on his arrival in Lusaka as saying: "Mwanawasa was a very courageous leader. He was very frank and wanted to change not only his country but the entire southern African region. We will greatly miss him."

Mugabe had come under criticism from Mwanawasa over the situation in Zimbabwe and the widely discredited elections that returned him to power.

Jakaya Kikwete, the Tanzanian president who also holds the presidency of the African Union, paid tribute to Mwanawasa as a "visionary leader [who] worked tirelessly to promote human rights and democracy in Africa".
 
"He always spoke his mind," Kikwete told the packed funeral service at a Baptist church in Lusaka.

Mwanawasa died in Paris on August 19, in a French military hospital, following a stroke he suffered in June.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: