Earlier this year, the government told journalists that Sata spent a working holiday in Israel, though the Israeli media later reported that he was there to receive medical treatment.
Mapema mwaka huu, serikali iliwaambia waandishi wa habari kwamba Sata alitumia sikukuu ya kufanya kazi nchini Israel, ingawa baadaye vyombo vya habari vya Israeli viliripoti kuwa alikuwapo ili kupata matibabu.