The government only recently acknowledged that the president was sick, waiting until October 20, four days before Zambia's 50th Independence Day, when Sata needed to be evacuated to Britain for emergency medical treatment. 
Serikali ilikiri hivi majuzi kwamba rais alikuwa mgonjwa, habari zilizotolewa Oktoba 20, siku nne kabla ya sherehe za Miaka 50 ya Uhuru wa Zambia, ambapo Sata alikuwa amesafirishwa kwenda Uingereza kwa ajili ya matibabu ya dharura.