Thousands pay tribute to late Zambian president Mwanawasa

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

LUSAKA (AFP) — Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai put aside their rivalry Wednesday to join African heads of state at the funeral of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa.

The bitter rivals mingled with more than a dozen African heads of state and government, as well as envoys from the United States and Britain, among 5,000 mourners around the Baptist church in Lusaka.

Mugabe paid tribute to Mwanawasa -- who once referred to Zimbabwe as a "sinking Titanic" -- when he arrived in the Zambian capital.

Mwanawasa died aged 59 in a Paris hospital on August 19 after suffering a stroke.

"Mwanawasa was a very courageous leader. He was very frank and wanted to change not only his country but the entire southern African...