Former President Rupiah Banda this morning broke down after viewing the body of former First Lady Betty Kaunda at Mulungushi International Conference Centre where her body is lying for members of the public to pay their last respects.
And hundreds of Lusaka residents today turned up in their large numbers to bid farewell to Mama Betty Kaunda at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
The former Head of State who arrived at Mulungusi Conference Centre at about 11:18 hours wept uncontrollably as he consoled family members of the late Mama Betty that included her daughter Musata Kaunda.
Mr Banda thereafter proceeded to hold a private meeting with Mama Betty’s family that lasted for about 15 minutes.
And speaking to journalists after the body viewing, the former President said Mama Betty was a great woman who stood by her husband even in very difficult times.
He said he feels sorry for First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda who now has to face life alone after having spent so many years with his wife.
Mr Banda said Mama Betty’s death was shocking and called on all Zambians to mourn her demise by upholding the things she held dearly which was sacrifice for the country above self.
He said Zambia is where it is today because of the sacrifices that Mama Betty made during the liberalisation struggle.
The former President further stated that the late Betty Kaunda was the perfect role model for today’s women in so far as having respect for marriage is concerned even when going through turbulent situations.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Lusaka residents today turned out in their large numbers to pay their last respect to Mama Betty Kaunda at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
Cabinet Ministers, foreign dignitaries, opposition political party leaders, civil society organisation leaders and other mourners all turned up to bid farewell to the former First Lady.
And a governance activist, Bonnie Tembo said the death of Mama Betty has robbed Zambia of yet again a great woman who contributed immensely in liberating the country from the colonial masters.
Mr Tembo said the history of the country cannot be complete without mentioning the name of the Mama Betty and the role she played in the liberation struggle.
He said the late Mrs Kaunda was an inspiration to all the freedom fighters that fought to liberate the country from the colonial powers.
Mr Tembo hoped Dr Kaunda is strengthened even with the loss of his dear wife of 66 years in order to move forward.
Those that attended the body viewing include the widow of Former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, Mama Maria, Education Minister Dr John Phiri, Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde, Works and Supply Deputy Minister Dr Mutaba Mwali and several other cabinet and deputy ministers.
Others include, US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella, Senior Chieftainess Nkomesha Mukambo the second, freedom fighter Mama Chibesa Kankasa, MMD Secretary General Richard Kachingwe, ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba and several other notable mourners.
ZANIS
It is indeed sad moment.No wonder am not surprised that Lupiya Banda has shed tears again just like last time when he was conceding defeat.MHSRIP.
I cant wait to watch Ukwa’s antics when when he does the vieweing!
Grow up stupid !! this is not a time for silly comments
you are such a fool! even in times of mourning you ***** never cease to use your ass to think. brut!!
so what av u pipo advised this person…? all you have done is insult and the person has not got any lesson from your words. you are just as bad as him/her.
Rest in Peace Mama Betty Kaunda
Men generally don’t cry uncontrolably at funerals…RB may have been wailing about other things…
I was thinking in those lines too. RB was accorded a great opportunity to wail about other issues!
We chipuba don’t you know that Rupia Banda and Betty Banda Kaunda are cousins true cousins not fake
When someone dies people cry a lot why?
Who knows may be that person is somewhere where it is quite…no nothing or at best is an angel or away from this cold world full of player haters and miseries!
Serve your sympathy and cry for yourselves you who have remained in this cruel world especially Africa…a land with few and scarce opportunities!
Word up!
The end of an era. Rest in Peace Mama Betty. We wish our father Kenneth well and indeed the entire Kaunda family.
Betty raised well grounded first children not the likes of Castro Chiluba.
I know you floozy girl,you have been in the States for 70 years and all you have are 5 guns and a Toyota ,I will catch you at the cross road!
You Blubbering fool-second class citizen in the States,leave me alone!
See you in Washington,you are one of those Black people infected with H.I.V-AIDS!
Men dont cry at funerals men show deep sympathetic emotions during difficult times like funerals. I think RB nichililalilafye even after loosing elections last year he cried uncontrollably. RIP Mama Betty
What kind of thinking is this?
Men have feelings just like women you chimpanzee!
Men can cry just like women,so cut the crap!!!!!!!!!
I suspect you are an old ugly African man with goose pimples… with that kind of thinking,you must be poor!
Guys, Banda is not the first one to cry after losing the elections. Jimmy Carter the one-term USA president also cried when he lost to Ronald reagan (I think) in the 1980s
In Zambia only two Presidents have lost elections and conceeded: KK and RB. Chiluba’s term came to an end, he did not want to leave, his Cabinet revorted. End result? He forced the creation of PF and now (11 years later) we have PF in power (not equal to office!)
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so you think having HIV is funny and a big joke. Mark my words.
Ninshi bena ba RB balilafye lyonse ? Hmm awe kwena.Anyway my condolences to the Kaunda family.
Ba Rupiah chipuba bamudala aba. Why cry uncontrollably….or is lusaka times exaggerating! Rest in peace mother Betty
Go well Mama Betty. Fond memories of you as First Lady of our beloved Republic will never fade.Â
…and several other notable mourners.
No further comment your honor…
it has been amazing to have such a wonderful mother and a first lady who combined the two, and managed to be a good model of what a truely first lady suposed to be. She led a quiet and successful life, which others have failed to achieve despite being so highly educated. She helped Dr. Kaunda achieve his objectives and became one of the most successful African leaders. Not only to Zambians but to all of us who were in need of peace which he freely offered to all of us, more especially to us, Angolans at the time when we needed it most. Our deep heart felt condolences to Zambians and the Kaunda Family.
It is amazing the kind of relationship the Kaundas had with the Nyereres. Kenneth Kaunda named his last son Kambarage, after Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Mwalimu Nyerere also named one of his sons Buchizya, after Kenneth Buchizya Kaunda. I wonder if such camaradreships does still exist among morden statesmen.
Real men cry.RB has lost a wife before and knows the pain KK is feeling thats why he wept,
@7 and 9, am sure you two chaps have not lost a loved one before, RB lost her first wife mrs Hope Makulu Banda and it brings back memories you *****s
Much I do respect your views, however may we be using a rather soft and friendly language?
Sorry for the loss of mama Betty Kaunda. May the family find comfort in the Lord Jesus and God the father. Amen.
Rest In Peace, Mama … we are right behind you and when the roll is called up yonder, we too will be there. Down here under, we shall forever be indebted to your selflessness … you shoes too big for any one else to fit in, you grace unsurpassed, you humility incomparable, your persona only befitting the best cultured woman the Zambian Enterprise could call the “first” First Lady.
As for Bashikulu, KK, no amount of words of condolences can replace the vacuum you now have and ours is only say a prayer for you. A gallant man you are, posterity will judge you well, and revisionist history will vindicate your every action as pure love for mankind and your Creator … Long Live KK.
Rest In Peace, Mama Betty Kaunda.
REST IN PEACE MAMA BETTY ..:(
Te vaya bien mama Betty y su alma descanse en paz.(Fare thee well mama Betty and may your soul rest in peace)
Rest in peace a mbuya Betty Kaunda. I truely have fond memories and you really exhibited genuine qualities of a first lady. Zambia shall never have a real first lady, you were the only one mama..mhsrip.. Modern first ladies of zambia have gone commercial and you can’t touch them.. They can globetrot as many times as they can using anything including jets…shame on you !!!
REST IN PEACE AMBUYA BETTY-WE LOVED YOU DEARLY
……. To GOGO KK, You are our Champion of peace and love in Africa
Rest in peace Mama Betty. A great First Lady. A truly cultured woman.
Only God our Lord shall give KK and family peace. Farewell Mama Betty, It was a life worthy lived.KK shall never be the same again without you. We shall PRAY for our Father of the Nation, Zambia for strength in thses very trying moments.ALL of US are only travellers on this earth. GOD bless KK, Zambia and Africa.
its like everybody is trying to say good thing about this evil woman ,now that she is gone, dont you people remember the hugry stories people who worked at the state house gave in 1991. she would pour hot cooking oil on the poor servant sfor no reason.she did witness the worst killings of kaunda s enemies at the state house.
Those of you who are condemning RB have never lost some one who was close to you. Wait until you lose one and see if you will be able to write the way you are writing. May the soul of our departed Grandmother rest in peace.
Ndipo Chaipa Ambuyeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!
They share the same surname and we knew they were related!What now.They are not!One from Jumbe and the other from Zim!We knew lots of stories about ba Betty from state house that she was cruel to her support staff blur …blur!But thats Zambia…kachepa!My condolences to K.K,the family,friends and the nation at large.MHSRIP.GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
John Hina may God bless you for you do not have sense of shame.
May our good Lord be with our father of the nation and all the kaunda family as thy mourn mama Betty Kaunda.
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