Questions about the health of the Zambian President Michael Sata are stubbornly refusing to go away having simmered ever since he dropped out of sight at the end of May this year. For a known extrovert who has never shied away from the limelight, this was particularly uncharacteristic. He has made only sporadic appearances since. Media reports in late September were of his having died in a New York hotel room while leading the Zambian delegation to the 69th session of the UN General Assembly. He was scheduled to address it but was not present when his turn came. No explanation was forthcoming. Only two days later did Foreign Minister Harry Kalaba deliver a speech on his behalf. Reports of his death turned out to have been "grossly exaggerated". It is clear though that he was attended to by doctors in his hotel room on or about the day that he was due to deliver his address. Mr. Sata was both philosophical about and dismissive of those reports: "It is not the first time that I have died. I have died before and this is not the last time. I am used [to it]..." he said as he left New [...]
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