"Fellow countrymen, with deep sorrow and grief, I would like to inform the people of Zambia that our president Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died this morning at 1030 hours (0830 GMT)," Banda said on state television.
"I also wish to inform the nation that national mourning starts today and will be for seven days."
Banda is expected to take over as acting president according to Zambia's constitution and elections would be called.
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