Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda died on Friday at the age of 85 following a long battle with colon cancer, his son Andrew told AFP.
“He’s gone,” Andrew Banda told an AFP correspondent in Lusaka on Friday evening.
The fourth leader of the southern African country since its independence from Britain served for three years from 2008, a short tenure marked by economic growth and accusations of corruption.
Mr. Banda was vice-president when his predecessor, Levy Mwanawasa, succumbed to a stroke, which propelled him to the head of the country.
But the seasoned diplomat was then defeated in the 2011 election, despite overseeing massive economic growth under his tenure.
Zambia’s economy grew during Banda’s brief presidency, driven mainly by rising copper prices and a boom in Chinese investment.
He continued the infrastructure work begun under Mwanawasa, building much-needed roads, hospitals and schools.
Zambia recorded growth of 7.6% in 2011, down from 6.4% the previous year, for which Banda took credit. He had hoped that the economic upturn would convince voters to keep him in power.
Most of the 17.9 million Zambians, however, have not reaped the benefits of the mining and construction boom. Wealth accumulated in the hands of the few, while accusations of corruption surfaced, tarnishing his reputation.
In September 2011, he was widely defeated by opposition leader Michael Sata.
