Zambia's opposition leader suspends campaigns due to father's sickness

One of the opposition leaders participating in Zambia's presidential election next week has suspended his campaigns in order to be by his father's bedside who has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, his office said in a statement Monday.

Elias Chipimo Junior, leader of the opposition National Restoration Party (NAREP), said he has put his campaigns on hold with immediate effect to enable him to spend more time with his sick father.

The opposition leader, however said the move was temporary and that he will not pull out of the race or endorse another presidential contender.

"In the nine days of the campaign remaining, I have chosen to make an important decision to temporarily suspend my campaign in order to spend time with the man who gave me life -- my father," he said.

"I ask that you all pray for my father as he battles through his cancer and that you respect my time away from the campaign to be with him. My time away does not amount to the end of our participation in the forthcoming election and should not be read as a sign of endorsement of any candidate," he added.

The opposition leader, who is a lawyer by profession, has since urged his supporters to continue with the campaigns, adding that he decided to enter politics in order to bring flesh ideas and solutions to the country's problems.

This is the second time the opposition leader is taking party in a presidential election after taking part in the 2011 general election.

Zambia will hold a presidential election on Jan. 20 necessitated by the death of President Michael Sata last October, with 11 contenders participating. Endi