Profile: Zambian President 22:01, August 19, 2008

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has died in a military hospital in after being hospitalized for more than a month, Vice President said Tuesday, according to agencies' reports.

Born in Mufulir, Copperbelt Province on Sept. 3, 1948, Mwanawasa started to emerge politically when he, as vice-president of the University of Student Union, organized students in several demonstrations in support of the liberation struggle in .

After graduation from college in 1973, the bachelor-degree holder gradually established his reputation as a prominent lawyer in the next two decades.

In his most famous case, he successfully defended former vice-president Christon Tembo and others on treason charges in 1989, saving them from death penalties if convicted.

As one of the founding fathers of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), Mwanawasa helped defeat then President in Zambia's first-ever multiparty elections in 1991.

He was, in late 1991, appointed vice- but resigned the position three years later because of intolerance for gross abuse of office and corruption under the Chiluba government.

While remaining a MMD party member, Mwanawasa continued his pursuit in the law society until 2001.

Mwanawasa survived a road accident in December, 1991 but remained hospitalized for three months. The near-fatal accident leaves him with hobbling movements and slurred speech.

Called back to MMD's caucus by lame-ducked Chiluba, Mwanawasa reaped the presidency in the 2001 general elections.

To everyone's surprise, Mwanawasa fell out with Chiluba soon after inauguration and launched a sweeping anti-corruption movement which was accused of witch-hunt against the former regime.

In April, 2006, Mwanawasa was hit by a mild stroke but made a quick recover after receiving treatment in Britain.

Four Months later, he defeated his political rival and won a second term by a very narrow margin.

Unlike his predecessors, Mwanawasa made substantial achievements in development. Under Mwanawasa's leadership, Zambia has recorded positive economic growth with billions of dollars injected in by foreign investors.

Mwanawasa was inaugurated chairman of Southern African Development Community in 2007 and praised for his tireless efforts to end the election disputes in which broke out in wake of the March 2008 presidential elections.

He is married to Maureen Luchendo Mwanawasa and now a father of six.

"Source: Xinhua"