Zambia’s former first lady, Maureen Mwanawasa, has died aged 61.
She succumbed on Tuesday night after a short illness in a hospital in the capital Lusaka, her family said.
The former first lady was married to the country’s third president, Levy Mwanawasa, who served from 2002 until his death in 2008.
President Hakainde Hichilema described his death as a “deep shock”.
With a background in law, Ms. Mwanawasa was an active advocate for social justice, community development and public health issues.
She co-owned a law firm with her husband until he entered politics and was actively involved in her husband’s successful presidential bid in 2001.
Before her husband’s death in 2008, she was considered a potential candidate to succeed him, but after he died, she did not seek to run.
In 2016, Ms Mwanawasa ran unsuccessfully for the position of Mayor of Lusaka.
It is unclear whether she was a member of any political party before her death.
She was a founding member and former president of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS, now known as the Organization of African First Ladies for Development.
His efforts in community development have earned him several awards, including the World Vision International Hope Award in 2006.
“May his legacy of hard work, kindness, compassion and dedication to our nation continue to inspire us,” said Nevers Sekwila Mumba, leader of Mwanawasa’s Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), now in opposition.
In his statement, President Hichilema called on the country to unite “as we join his family, and indeed the nation, in prayer.”
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