A veteran ruling party member was sworn in as the new president of Zambia Sunday promising to continue the free-market policies of a government that greatly expanded trade between China and one of the world’s top copper producers.

Veteran diplomat Rupiah Banda was sworn in as the new president of Zambia Sunday following a narrow and disputed victory over a populist rival in an election forced by the death of the country’s former leader.

Zambia’s main opposition candidate was ahead Friday in early presidential election results in this southern African nation, but his lead was slowly narrowing.

Zambians were voting for a new president Thursday, and the main contenders said economic progress was their top goal as the global financial crisis cast a shadow over the southern African country’s ballot.

The economy is a major issue ahead of Thursday’s vote to replace Zambia’s late president, with the global financial crisis looming in the background.

The French president’s office says Zambia’s President Levy Mwanawasa has died. He was 59.

The condition of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, hospitalized in France since suffering a stroke in June, has suddenly taken a turn for the worse, state media reported Tuesday.

Zambia’s president is missing the opening of the African Union summit after being rushed to a hospital.Egypt’s official MENA news agency says President Levy Mwanawasa was rushed to a hospital late Sunday after falling ill while meeting with other...

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe skipped a regional summit Saturday addressing the deepening crisis over the country’s contentious presidential election, giving southern African leaders little chance to step up the pressure on him.The summit reflected..

Southern African leaders are beginning an emergency summit on the crisis in Zimbabwe.Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa says Saturday’s summit is aimed at helping Zimbabwe find a solution “that generally reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people.”The...