First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda has describe the late Michael Sata as an organiser and mobiliser of the grass roots who was practical and applied himself strongly to tasks at hand.
In a statement released by his office, Dr Kaunda said that the late President Sata was firm but also considerate of others.
“He was a down to earth person and interacted very well with people from all walks of life. He interacted well with the poor and downtrodden. He had passion to develop the country and got involved in infrastructure development projects covering various fields.
I remember that he did not give up easily. He believed he could serve his fellow human beings in high office and continued to seek the presidency until he got it in 2011, ” the former head of state said
Below is the full statement
Dr Kenneth D Kaunda,
First President of the Republic of Zambia
On the Passing of President Michael Chilufya Sata, in London, on Tuesday October 28th, 2014
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Like millions of others, I was very moved when I heard that President Michael Chilufya Sata had passed on at King Edward VII Hospital on the night of Tuesday October 28, 2014.
I was in shock. I didn’t expect that he would pass on at the time he did.
I remember that when I learnt that he had gone to Britain for treatment, I was very happy. I hoped he would heal. I had the best hope for him to come back.
And now, sadly, there he has died! It has been very shocking.
This has happened at this important Jubilee time when we should be with him celebrating Zambia’s fifty years of Independence.
Michael Chilufya Sata has been a great part of Zambia’s fifty years of Independence. He made very important contributions. I have seen him at work in various roles. I have seen him work in various roles in party, government, and business.
Because of the confidence I had in him, I appointed him governor of Lusaka and he did the job very well. Later, he was a minister of state.
In public life, he has been councillor, Lusaka governor, Member of Parliament, and minister in various portfolios. Finally, from 2011, he served us as President.
He had brought to my heart a lot of hope when he took over the leadership of the country. But his passing on October 28 was a shock to me. I did not think things would turn out like this. It is really a difficult thing. At no time did I think that he could go in that way.
My Brothers and Sisters, we can learn a lot from the life of Michael Chilufya Sata. Many of us remember him for his spirit of patriotism to Mother Zambia. He was an organiser and mobiliser of the grass roots. He was practical and applied himself strongly to tasks at hand.
Michael Chilufya Sata was firm but also considerate of others. He was a down to earth person and interacted very well with people from all walks of life. He interacted well with the poor and downtrodden.
He had passion to develop the country and got involved in infrastructure development projects covering various fields.
I remember that he did not give up easily. He believed he could serve his fellow human beings in high office and continued to seek the presidency until he got it in 2011.
Under his administration, many women were appointed to positions of authority in various fields. He also showed care towards children.
My Brothers and Sisters, this is a very painful time for the family of Michael Chilufya Sata. To his family, I say there is deep pain but let us commit to strong prayers.
To all of us, my Brothers and Sisters, my Friends, let us mourn our brother President Sata with dignity and unity. Let us remember the force of love. This is another time to remember the Commandment to love God fully. As to the one made in God’s image, let us remember to practice the Commandment: Love your neighbour as thy self. And to do unto others the good we would want them do unto us.
At this time of Jubilee, it is time to reflect on our journey. We must reflect on where we have come from, where we are at now, and where we should be.
We need to maintain the relative stability and togetherness that Zambia has had since Independence.
We would not have reached this point of stability if our people had not worked and lived together in unity, knowing that we all have one Creator. We are all children of God. North, East, South, West, and Centre, we are all brothers and sisters.
Let us always remember we are One Zambia, One Nation. We are an important part of this, our one world. Whatever background we are from, we must continue to work for peace.
Let us use this period of mourning President Michael Chilufya Sata to consolidate unity and peace for Zambia. It is important that each one of us must do everything possible to keep the peace and maintain stability. Let us work for One Zambia, One Nation.
Thank You.
* * *
You forgot to remind the nation that he was not fit to be president as you correctly analysed in the past.
Words of wisdom from the articulate, principled son of Zambia. The Ghandi of Africa, KK.
Nice words Ba KK. You have come this far Mankangala because of the way you lived your life, very disciplined. Thank Dr Kaunda for the words of wisdom. May Mr. Sata’s soul rest in eternal peace.
Absolutely spot on. ..he was a great organiser at party level of the grasslevel. Give Michael Sata the position of SG you will be guaranteed of expansion….Unfortunately Sata didn’t have the tools and the faculties to lead a nation as a head of state as evident by the way he was energised at by election campaigns but lamentably failed to exhibit the selfsame ethiusaism at international level or national level.
Chiluba was right when he said Sata was not presidential material. ..we should have listened to the little man.
But Ba KK he always goes straight through the hearts of people. I hope Ba Miyanda and Kambwili read that message.
That KK he didn’t mention:
– Scott
– PF
– Constitution
I wrote it as if he was sending message to Corinthians.
There are no permanent enemies in politics. People do not mean what they say they only want to win the election. These are tactics
QUESTIONS FOR PF BEFORE ELECTING NEW PRESIDENT.
1. Why did PF Don’t Kubeba us about Mr. Sata’s health and what guarantee do we have that they won’t lie to us again? Some people have to account for this….
2. Why do you (PF) allow your cadres to misbehave and disturb our peace?
3. Was the bloated cabinet under MMD reduced as promised? This is partly the reason for the high debt we have now accrued due to limited revenue thereby enslaving future generations.
4. Constitutional reforms promised in 90 days, how far?
5. Where are the jobs and more money in our pockets with this wage and employment freeze?
6. Why allow the vendors to litter our streets?
7. Charges and harassment of opposition political party leaders and people with divergent views, how and why?
8. The
8. The unnecessary by-elections we have experienced, any reason?
9. Appointment of relatives, cadres and friends without giving every Zambian a chance to aspire for the jobs, are others less Zambian?
10. Many contracts to companies that have been corrupting you as alleged by Mr. Chikwanda and making the Anti – Corruption Commission toothless but used to settle scores, just explain?
11. Why have you not pursued our money borrowed from DBZ to be paid back by the people that operated Zambian Airways? You know them…
12. The Late Mr. Sata told us you are useless, how useful can you be now?
13. Why do you (PF) like Don’t Kubebering us most of the time? Any new promises to tell us during the campaigns?
Mr M. Chola sir, your comments are now boring and outdated. Say something new.
Ba Mr Chola this is the time to mourn. Is it Sata who created those by elections? It is the ECZ. Those are the fruits of corruption. Keep quiet if have nothing good to say about someone. So don’t give cash and fitenge materials during by elections. I won’t talk more.
BBC,
Mourn yes and my comments do not stop anyone from morning. I wont be docile and fail to ask fair questions to the PF. These people must account before they starting telling us sweet stories in order to maintain there stay in power. I can assure you that I will ask these questions and many more as we approach the date for the elections of new president.
Well said bwana KK. We have lost a great pillar.
@Soulosi
Please accept heart felt condolences, during trying moments like these you hear alot of things some bad, some good,,, be strong, i personally still want to see you on Lusaka times even after Kabimba or GBM or Mmembe become president for PF
@ndobo
Ha ha ha, thank you man. It has indeed been a hard three days for me. The pain of losing my hero and mentor has been too much. You will surely continue seeing me, but in a more or less frequent manner depending on whom the chosen one will be.
He was also selfish who hated northwesteners, he never took development to north western. North western will forever have bitter memories for him, He was gullbladder for the people of north western province. There is no development to talk about in north westen province under him.
I know this will attract unfavourable votes but i don’t give a fcuk! The man died for so many reasons: He exhibited traits of a dictator, he hated the people of Barotseland, he appointed only his tribesmen to positions of influence, he hated divergent views from the opposition, he took RDA to his office for easy manipulation knowing that no auditors are allowed to reach his office, he stifled our freedoms of assembly, he told son many lies about reduced fuel prices, more money in people’s pockets…loading…
Ba Zambians bu fontini BUT SATA is the one who Appointed Lungu and Guy Scott !!
Raise him frm dead and come & re-appoint or Disappoint both of them!!
BUT THE CONSTITUTION is the meeting point !!!
and at ths Scott has an UPPER HAND.
There is no CONFUSION HERE !!!!
Its just a stereotyped behavour of wanting wht u want!!!
@Wanzelu I am GREATLY ASHAMED of your comments for the FIRST TIME.
How can exhibit such IGNORANCE or mayb its not you !!
Hahahaha…..bu fontini BUT SATA is the one who Appointed Lungu and Guy Scott !!
Raise him frm dead and come & re-appoint or Disappoint both of them!!
BUT THE CONSTITUTION is the meeting point !!!
and at ths Scott has an UPPER HAND.
There is no CONFUSION HERE !!!!
Its just a stereotyped behavour of wanting wht u want!!!
@Wanzelu I am GREATLY ASHAMED of your comments for the FIRST TIME.
How can exhibit such IGNORANCE or mayb its not you !!
Guy scott think about other whites and yourself. if you listen to evil forces and mismanage this trust, mugabe will forever be hero. pliz campaign for Edgar lungu and Africa will forget about what your fellow whites did to us. its better to lose membe and kabimba and win the whole world
Very good point there. Walasa mune.
Stop wasting time on talking about the past life of a person who noly stood for violence. Why do you forget so easily how the bully inflicted pain on many Zambians including Kaunda himself.
That aside, as we enter the national mourning, are P F prostitutes going to offer free sex especially on burial day as celebration of the end a dictator as they did when Zambia won the Africa cup? Answer my question Dr. Scot
@Chola,
Why do you call yourself this name. Yu surely know where you are come from yu cant be chola.
Y yu hated MCS, wait for up coming elections so that who yu want will not win presidency.
Shame on you Grand because I can trace your IP address and state that you are also commenting under the name BBC.
I hail from Mansa under chief Matanda though I work in Chingola. Im not going to demand answers from PF because they have betrayed my trust after I voted for them in 2011.
Surely God is good in all the times! Everything happens for a purpose & give praise to our Almighty Jehovah God for our wishes & desires are not like his!We are all strangers & will one day pass on but what legacy are we going to leave for t he. mourners & neighbours! Surely Sata has gone & left a balkanised Zambia on tribal,regional & nepotic lines! He was a professor in lies & conning the unobserved poorest of the poor! Surely the PF will find it very challenging these presidential bye-elections because they have lied from 2008 todate.These elections will really test the intelligence of would be voters!
It will test the intelligence of Zambians in general. Voters are a representative of the overall population of Zambia. But I know Zambians, PF are going next year january unless Zambians give PF a sympathetic vote (like they did to MMD/RB) plus rigging here and there.
Bachola tho not your real name yes he might have not done that but there things he has done which he didnt promise. For north western province pliz lets all vote lungu and PF and you will have equal share. if you vote otherwise even benefits shud come from there.
If Chola is not my real name then what is it? Im not afraid to ask genuine questions to the people I gave my vote in 2011. I have this opportunity to ask because I know soon they will start asking for our votes in the quest to maintain their stay in power. No more fake promises from PF.
Are you kidding me? Vote for these PF SATA-nists? The people of NWP, WP, SP, CP, EP, LSP have been through a lot. We have been victimized, insulted, called names by SATAn and his people. They killed their own right in front of our doorsteps and tried to accuse us of murder.
SATAn and his peeps have up to now not justified why they can build 3 or is it 10 universities in his Muchinga vs other provinces. I have never been happier at the demise of SATAn and PF. I am sipping some Bacardi tonight
Muchinga province 2 x universities———-Northwestern province Zero
Muchinga province 1 x Hydro electricity power station———N/W province zero
Muchinga province new roads———N/W province zero
Muchinga province new police station———N/w zero
Muchinga province new international airport ——–N/W zero
And you want us to call him our hero????? Hero myfoot
Well spoken !! our Great father of our great Zambia …. Thank you for you wisdom and all you mean to us !!.. Dr K.D Kaunda…Long Live !!
ONE ZAMBIA ! ONE NATION !
@chola.
yu re claiming to be chola. yu re also claiming to be coming from matanda. why do yu pretend. yo ka smal party is loosing the upcoming elections. pliz dont take poison be strong
January 2014 VOTE FOR PF, VOTE FOR PF, 2016 VOTE FOR MMD OR CHIPIMO
You are right bro these small parties will cry a foul.
HH at the airport tomorrow, how is that?
The only thing sata mobilized was plundering kk’s bottom with full force after applying some butterscotch cream and white float. these useless people deserve to go to hell and suck on the devils hose pipe; evans mfula at evaduco reporting live from lusaka and hiding from kitwe boys
Well said Dr. Kaunda the late Pres.Sata was indeed and good organiser and mobiliser of the grass rooot. I remember when he started his party he would organise the grass roots to accompany him to the high court and various places. He owed them his presidency. RIP.
YES HE WAS AN ORGANISER. I RECKON THAT YOU ALSO REFER HIM BEING A SHIBUKOME SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE MARRIED CHIEFTAINESS NKOMESHA.
AT LEAST HE LAID GROUNDS YOU CAN PICK UP FROM WHERE HE ENDED.
As Zambians we should have put pressure through demonstrations long ago when SATAn started acting up. We should have gone to the streets peacefully. I like what they have done in Burkina Faso–forced the president out.
Sata sworn to defend the constitution using the Bible & that implied telling the truth only but the truth.He even told the catholics in church that he was going to rule Zambia using the ‘Ten Commandments’!I really don’t know which Bible he used to ready from which is anathemic to his compulsions.SURELY SATA WASN’T A TRUE CHRISTIAN but may be a religious comedian Ukwa of the last aged Presidents of the Zambian era! Moreover,Scott is a liar he doesn’t even worth to be a representative of the Zambian populance!
Whoever is going to take-over the reigns of power in PF, take note! It is not going to be smooth sailing. Mr. Sata’s shoes may be too big for you. PF’s success can be attributed to the kind of person Mr. Sata was. Few people in PF can measure-up to his stature as a grassroots organizer.
@CHOLA,
You sound ifontini real. I even doubt your level of education and in-born wisdom. Even if what you are saying is true, but are we in the mood to buy your hate messages at this point in time? You lack self assessment and natural wisdom. There is time for everything, time for politics, time for celebrations, time for criticism, and time for reflection. At least, be human being and do what you want to do at an appropriate time and others may support you. For now, your comments imply that you are very happy that SATA has died so that your favorite candidate wins this time.
As much as I respect you Dr Kaunda for the things you did for this country I think you are not being sincere here. Sata was a person you called “NOT PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL”. You also said the MMD killed your late son Major Wezi Kaunda (MHSRIP) and I think Mr Sata was a very influential figure of the MMD you strongly despised. Please don’t pretend to like President Sata now that he is late.
@chola.
yu re happy that MCS is no more. within three months yu ill surely cry lounder
I share my condolences with the family, he was a father, a grandfather and a husband, yes to some of he was divisive, ignorant and divisive, how could he think the lunda people could be inferior to the Bembas when they are like lots of other tribes originated from the LUNDA/luba kingdom, the arrogance of ignorance I’d beyond belief
@mwana ka kalunda
My sentiments precisely. I am Bemba but so annoyed by people like Sata who displayed such ignorance concerning Lunda people. These people conveniently forget our origins. The facts are that Lunda, Kaonde, Bemba, Chokwe, Lamba, Lala and others share the same background and co-existed centuries ago and still co-exist right at this minute both in Congo DRC and Zambia. Instead of promoting harmony among the people mentioned above, because of our common heritage, i.e. we are truly one family, they go about antagonizing them. Leaders should be able to understand such things and help forge a harmonious society based on mutual respect. If Sata cared to learn more about Lunda people he would have shocked himself to discover that Lunda is more superior and more influential.
The quantity of crocodile tears being shed and the hypocritical messages being spewed is staggering.
You cannot force anybody to mourn. Death is the same whether poor, rich, famous or not. People died in hospitals due to poor facilities, mysterious deaths(tetamanshimba, paul tembo), accidents on poor roads. The long arm of death got him too. People will now rest from his insults. I will not vote PF anymore. I will look somewhere and HH is the answer. There will never be another tribalist like him. Bitter memories still linger!!,
Yes that’s all he was a very good political cadre, but as president he failed miserably. May your soul rest in peace Michael Chilufya Sata..
What ever people say good or bad about ba mudala ba SATA the fact remains he is still a great son of the land, and no one will take this part from him, he is and he was one of the geatest. He will rest at presidential memorial park, some will never rest at the presidential memorial park, like some afro hair cut guy (you know whom am talking about) it’s about tribe, but about Greatness and Wisdom. Presidents are not made but are born.
Sata does not deserve to be buried at Embassy park! Why should we have a LIAR and a CHEAT there? This is an insult to our other Presidents!
KK is right,yes Sata was a great organizer- of divisiveness,tribalism,regionalism and politics of bad taste.He let Lusaka turn into a pigstay thru “his street traders”.
Well said wa zamani.
WANTANSHI, THE CROCODILE TEARSMAND THE HYPOCRISY HAS NOT EVEN STARTED MY DEAR. VERY FEW ZAMBIANS STAND ON INTEGRITY ANFD CONVICTION. MAJORITY ARE MONEY-DRIVEN. SO WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING YOU CAN NEVER REALLY BE SURE WHY THEY SAYING WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
IT SHOWS SO CLEARLY FROM HOW OUR POLITICIANS JUMP FROM PARTY TO PARTY. JUST NOW A LOT OF MPS ARE OBSERVING WHICH SIDE OF THE BREAD IS BUTTERED. MANY WILL ENTER INTO ALL SORTS OF ALLIANCES, NOT ON PRINCIPLE BUT ON MONEY. THAT IS WHY IN ZAMBIA GOD ALWAYS OVERLOOKS THE MOST OBVIOUS CONTENDER AND PICKS AN OBSCURE PERSON. HE HAS ALREADY CHOSEN.
“Organiser and mobiliser of the grass roots”
But not a good leader or focused strategist at national level because his short term political interests outweighed Zambia’s national goals.
Maybe ba Kaunda is following the African tradition of never speaking ill of the dead. Maybe he is being deceitful. Maybe he is senile and can sincerely not remember a goddamn thing that happened a few hours ago. I cannot be the judge. Although I can say unequivocally that what this man is saying is beyond the realm of rationale and honesty. He is blubbering out of fear, confusion, silly diplomacy… I do not know.
It’s pathetic to see how tribal some people can be. These muppets think that someone with a Bemba name is incapable of not being a support of PF. They can’t accept the fact that “Chola” will not worship Sata even when he’s dead. So as far as they are concerned he can’t be Bemba.
Dull people always think about tribe because that’s their best qualification. Tribe is not something one chooses. No one chose to be born in a year particular tribe, race or country. Be proud of what you have achieved in life using your brains not your tribe.
Why should it be strange for a Bemba not to support PF or approve Sata’s record as president? Being so tribal, some muppets cannot accept the fact that someone with the name “Chola” is not a PF Zealot.
Tribe is not something one chooses to be born with. It is not a qualification. Be proud of what you have achieved in life using your brains and not your tribes.
I mourn because one of God’s creatures, a father and son, has died. I mourn because Jesus taught us to love, serve and respect every human being made in God’s message. And that is where my mourning ends. I do not mourn this man as a President. The characteristics displayed by MCS as Head of state were repulsive, divisive and humiliating. He insulted chiefs, demeaned his ministers and showed absolutely no respect for the people of Zambia. His wife, like Adam’s before him, like Samson’s girlfriend Delilah, took control of our country. Together they created their own world, appointing all their close friends and relatives to high positions. Ask for a list of all Mission Heads and other subordinates abroad, Kaseba’s finger is in it. E.G. Belgian Ambassador and entire staff at Belgian…
Yes he was the“Organiser and mobiliser of the grass roots”
He even went to an extent of mobilising the youth to get National Registration Cards.
Most of our youths found it difficult to acquire N.R.C even if they have attained the age of 16yrs. Mr. Sata was down to earth and helped many youths to obtain N.R.C. In turn the youths owed him there vote on a large scale this boosted his election to the office of president. N.R.C for the youth still remains a problem move most of the opposition presidents lack in helping out.
Good unifying message ba Kaunda. Wonder though why you realised the virtures of the man only after he had taken good care of you. We all remember how you used to say he could not be trusted and deserved to work under someone. Anyway, you are indeed a great son of this country ba KK.
Kaunda gave us pineapple cannery in north wester province, schools, hospitals befitting the provinces at that time. He made his mistakes yes but at least he gave us a source of livelyhood. What has Sata given Us? hatred for him, for this reason I would like to wish KK long life.
THESE ARE WISE WORDS FROM OUR FORMER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. HE HAS DESCRIBED MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA VERY PRECISELY BUT IN FEW WORDS. CHILUFYA NEVER GAVE UP. HE WAS A VERY TOUGH MAN BUT AT THE SAME TIME VERY UNDERSTANDING. HIS INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE AT ANY LEVEL WAS SO IMMENSE. THE MAN WILL BE MISSED.