No zlib in Python 2.4.4

[shamzz at gmail.com]

Hi,

I've compiled (configure/make/make install) Python 2.4.4 from source
on Suse Linux Enterprise Server 9 (x64).

I need Python to be compiled with Zlib so that I can compile and use
Zope.

After installing Python, zlib doesn't seem to have been compiled with
it, I've checked the /usr/local/lib/python2.4/lib-dynload/ folder and
there is no zlib.so in there.

Shouldn't zlib be compiled as a Python module automatically in Python
2.4.4.  I'm guessing Python is doing some kind of check and not
compiling zlib for some reason?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Shams