Gwendolyn Konie put to rest

Opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Gwendolyn Konie, who died last Saturday, has been buried at her Kalabi farm in Lusaka’s State Lodge area.

First republican President, Kenneth Kaunda, senior government officials, some opposition political party officials, members of the civil society, the church and members of the general public were among the mourners that gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Kalabi Farm to pay their last respect to the late Mrs. Konie.

Community Development and Social Services Minister Michael Kaingu, who represented government at the funeral, said the late Mrs. Konie’s death was a big blow to the nation.

Mr. Kaingu said Zambia has yet again robbed of a visionary and selfless leader who toiled tirelessly for the betterment of the Zambian people.

He said the late Mrs. Konie’s death was not only a blow to the nation but also to the women and girl rights movement as she was an active woman rights activist.

Mr. Kaingu said the late Mrs. Konie contributed positively to the social and economic development of the nation at the time she served in the UNIP administration under former President Kenneth Kaunda.

He said the late Mrs. Konie continued to serve the nation even after she formed her own party and was instrumental in uplifting the status of women and the girl child in society.

Mr. Kaingu said women and younger girls are very unfortunate to lose a gallant and special woman like the late Mrs. Konie who worked hard to ensure that the women folk claimed their place in the men dominated society.

And speaking during the church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda said the late Mrs. Konie served Zambia in the most effective way possible.

Dr. Kaunda said he was greatly honoured to have worked with the former ambassador to the United Nations, who he described as a pillar in most of the developmental projects that his administration embarked on.

He said the late Mrs. Konie was a great women activist, who toiled tirelessly to see that women had their rightful place in society, adding that her contribution in the fight against HIV/AIDS will greatly be missed.

And in a vote of thanks, family representative Clement Mambwe thanked government for the support rendered to the family in according the late Mrs. Konie a befitting funeral and burial.

Mr. Mambwe also thanked government for recognizing the efforts which the late Mrs. Konie made in the social and economic development of the nation and for according her a state funeral.

ZANIS/PM/KSH/ENDS