According to a Thursday release from the office of the current President, Filipe Nyusi, Chissano felt unwell on a flight from Ghana to South Africa on Monday. On his arrival in South Africa, doctors decided he should be hospitalized, and he was taken to the Pretoria Military Hospital.
Chissano had received an honorary doctorate in Ghana from the University of Development Studies (UDS). He was awarded the degree for “his dedication to the service of humanity and collective fight for independence and equity in Mozambique”.
A citation accompanying the award described Chissano as “A courageous leader, outstanding negotiator for peace, sovereignty, stability, avowed promoter of social, economic and cultural development, high achiever and distinguished reformer”.
From Ghana he was travelling to South Africa to take part in a meeting of “Champions for a Generation free of HIV/AIDS”. This gathering was attended by several other former heads of state, including Kenneth Kaunda, Benjamin Mkapa and Festus Mogae, the former Presidents of Zambia, Tanzania and Botswana.
According to the release, Chissano’s clinical condition is “stable and tending to improve, but he remains hospitalized on the decision of the doctors so that they may better accompany the development of his health”.
Nyusi’s office said that he remains “in permanent contact” with Chissano, and is closely following his state of health.
Post published in: Africa News