8 heads of state to attend Sata burial

LUSAKA. — Eight African leaders have confirmed that they will attend the burial of late Zambian President Michael Sata, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Sata (77), died last Tuesday at London’s King Edward VII Hospital where he had gone for medical check-ups and will be buried next Tuesday after a 14-day national mourning period.

Eight heads of state have confirmed their attendance, Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba said during a press briefing. They include President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila, as well as leaders from Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda, he added.

South Africa will send its first lady, while Tanzania will be represented by its vice president, Kalaba said, adding that other countries will be represented by ambassadors and other senior ranking officials. Their attendance was a sign that the late leader was loved by African countries, he said. — Xinhua.