Mwanawasa mourns N’guni

President Mwanawasa yesterday joined several mourners at the funeral house of the late Lusaka Province commanding officer, Wasakaza Ng’uni, who died in a car accident on Tuesday night.
Mr Mwanawasa, who was accompanied by the First Lady, Maureen, was met on arrival at the funeral house at about 14:40 hours by several Cabinet ministers, Service Chiefs, senior Government and MMD party officials before he was led into the house by Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo.
The solemn looking President stayed at the funeral for almost an hour and did not address the Press after his visit.
The First Lady remained in the house for over 30 minutes, consoling the widow, Hilda Ng’uni.
Mr Ng’uni died in a road traffic accident on Tuesday night after his vehicle lost control and rolled several times and died on arrival at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
On Wednesday morning, Vice-President, Rupiah Banda, described the death of Mr Ng’uni as a great loss to the nation and called for thorough investigations to establish what led to the accidentMr Banda, who openly wept when he visited the funeral house in Kabulonga, described Mr Ng’uni as a selfless and gallant officer, who dedicated his life to ensuring that law and order was maintained during his tour of duty.
Zambia’s ambassador to Switzerland, Love Mtesa, sent a message of condolences to President Mwanawasa, the police service and the family on the demise of Mr Ng’uni.
“On behalf of the Zambian community in Switzerland and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to convey to the family of the late Mr Ng’uni, President Mwanawasa, Mr Mateyo and through him to the entire police service our heart felt condolences,” he said.
Mr Mtesa said Mr Ng’uni would be remembered as a very dedicated police officer, whose qualities needed to be emulated by all those that wished to succeed in the police service.
United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema, said his party learnt with deep sorrow and disbelief the sudden and untimely death of Mr Ng’uni.
He said his death was not only a blow to the Zambia Police Service but the entire nation.
“As a party we admire him for being brave, professional and dedication to duty. His conduct during the 2006 general elections was exemplary as he, under very difficult circumstances, administered the Public Order Act to give equal access for political parties to address campaign meetings.
“It is also undisputed that crime levels in the city and the province in general had reduced considerably during his reign,” Mr Hichilema said.
Burial of the late Mr Ng’uni would take place in Chama district in Eastern Province on Saturday, Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha announced yesterday.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said the decision to bury in Chama arose from a request from the family members and that the body would be flown to Lundazi district after a church services today en-route Chama.
According to the programme released by the police service, mourners would depart the funeral house for St-Anne around 09:00 hours after a church service to be held at United Church of Zambia (UCZ)’s St. Pauls in Kabwata.
The body is expected to depart for Lundazi by air at about 12:30 hours.