Ex-US leader Bush in Zambia for community serviceBy MICHAEL CHAWE in Lusaka | Saturday, June 30  2012 at  16:12

Former US president George Bush is in Zambia to check on the Bush Institute projects of breast and cancer diseases launched in Lusaka last year.

Mr Bush, his wife Laura and Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon executive director Doyin Oluwole arrived Saturday morning and was welcomed by that country’s Vice-President Guy Scott.

“…it is important to recognise that this [visit] is part of the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon alliance which includes the United States government, the Bush Institute, Unaids as well as several different private organisations including different pharmaceuticals,” United States diplomat to Zambia Mark Storella told journalists at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

“The total money that is being put in is certainly in millions of dollars and on this particular visit president Bush and Mrs Bush are providing $50,000 themselves to upgrade a specific facility technologically at the University Teaching Hospital,” Ambassador Storella told journalists yesterday.

Previous visits
Ambassador Storella said Mr Bush, who did not speak to reporters, was expected to do some voluntary work in the outskirts of the capital Lusaka. The voluntary work by the Americans is at a “very personal level”, he said.
Ambassador Storella said Mr Bush was expected to be in Zambia “for just about less than a week”.

On his previous visit to Africa, Mr Bush toured Tanzania, Ethiopia and Zambia.