President Rupiah Banda on Wednesday extended condolscences to the Acting President Henrique Perreira Rosa of New Guinea following the assasination of that country’s President Joas Bernardo Viera in the early hours of Monday this week.
State House Chief Analyst for Presss and Public Relations Dickson Jere said in a statement to ZANIS that President Banda said Zambia shares the pain and sadness which the government and the people of Guinea Bissau were going through during the difficult time following the death of their leader.
” On behalf of the Government and the people of Zambia and on my own behalf we extend our heart felt condolscences to you to the Government and people of Guinea Bissau, ” President Banda said in the letter to the Acting President Rosa.
He said President Vieira has been one of Africa’s distinguished leaders. He also extended his words of condolscences to the first Lady and the bereaved family.
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande said in a statement to ZANIS that the Zambian government is appalled at what he described as a barbaric act which has not only taken away the life of a serving President but also has the potential of reversing the gains of democratic governance of the Republic of Guinea Bissau.
The Minister said the Zambia government condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of both the President and Army Chief of Staff.
He added that the Zambian government is urging the government of Guinea Bissau to immediately bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to book to restore confidence in the military whose responsibility is to defend the territorial integrity of the country.
He added that the Zambian government was also urging the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to assist the government of Guinea Bissau to stabilise the country and deal with the root causes of the current situation there.
He said it is incumbent upon the AU member states to deploy efforts and to undertake initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic institutions which will entrench democracy on the continent.
ZANIS/MM/ENDS
As Africans, we are deeply concerned about the fate of The Guineans. My condolensces to the bereaved.
Too bad and so sad that people continue butchering each other in the name of power and greed..
May the belated Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
Actually may the belated ‘souls’ R.I.E.P.
My Condolences to the Guineans and more especially to the first family!
M H S R I P
too bad , my condolences to the people in Guinea
too bad
How old was this same president? hope he was not wamuyaya type of president like Bob. MHSRIP
MHSRIP and may the people of Guinea Bissau find peace and comfort as they mourn.
Thats the end result when you stop respecting the people. Hope others will learn from this sad development.
What caused the assassination of the Pres was the assassination of his bitter rival. I dont know but can 2 wrongs make a right? Africa needs to re examine it self without reservertions other wise solutions like these will continue to be used to settle scores
Strange, like we are in the sixties. Its not like the guy rigged the presidential elections, to warrant being killed, did he? It is still be wrong to take a life. As if they are capable of even making a strand of his hair. Shame! May God help them.
thats what he gets…as they are saying in the angolan papers
“com ferro matou, com ferro morreu” that is…”when you come in with fire, you’ll leave with fire”…this is the same Vieira who made a deal with the army so he rules with their loyalty, and avoids any coups but he came in via a coup…TWICE
how are you going to order to kill the Army General…did he forget who keeps the bombs?
if you ask me God just let events act out since that was fate…
African Leaders….malabish bonse….(with some exceptions).
I dont feel sorry for the ex-president..go to Guinea-bissau and see.
Why are you guys sorry for him, he personally took credit for the assasination of the general and the soldiers hammered him too!
The Killing I dont support it. It is a reminder though that when there are percieved enemity in the midst certain section of a people get agrieved to extent of doing the un acceptable thing like this one. We condemn this barbaric act. Now back home in Zambia, there are mountains of problem being shoved down Zambians like massive job losses.These have potentila to disturbilise the nation. Politicians seem to have given up hope instead of fighting to imoprove the General well being of citizens and safeguard their jobs. Atase.
Those who live bey the bullet die b y the bullet. He was a bad man hope he is having fun in hell!
African dictators always die violently. Its no surprise this has happened.