The Fourth President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda, was last evening honoured with the Honorary Prize for African Democracy as Kenyan Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka called on African leaders to emulate the former Zambian leader’s commitment to respecting the will of the people.
At the 2012 Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize-giving ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, footage of President Banda’s political life was run on two large screens and, as he was shown conceding defeat in the September 2011 presidential elections and urging all Zambians to support ‘our new president’, he received an appreciative applause from the audience.
The former Zambian head of State was among several personalities who were honoured for their contribution to the wellbeing of Africans. This is the second honour he has received this year after the Crans Montana Prix de la Fondation award he got in Switzerland.
[pullquote]“After accepting defeat, some of my compatriots called me a coward. How could I not accept the results of the elections organised by me as head of State? I was responsible for whatever could happen to the Zambian people. “[/pullquote]
“As Africans, we are proud of you President Banda. You were commander-in-chief in your country and you could have easily disputed the results of the elections. I wish many African leaders could listen to you and realise that even after losing elections, you can be great,” said Vice-President Musyoka to an adoring audience.
More praise was heaped on President Banda by former United Nations under Secretary-General Abdoulie Janneh who described the retired Zambian politician as a political model in Africa and urged other leaders on the continent to learn to accept the will of the people.
Mr Janneh, who is also executive director at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said it was time African leaders began providing leadership that inspired their people, stressing that leadership was the continent’s major malaise.
And speaking at the same event organised by the Millennium Excellence Foundation, President Banda urged African leaders to do nothing that would endanger the lives of their people.
“After accepting defeat, some of my compatriots called me a coward. How could I not accept the results of the elections organised by me as head of State? I was responsible for whatever could happen to the Zambian people.
“I call upon my fellow Africans to know that there can only be one winner in an election and the rest run the risk of losing. Even after losing elections, you must learn to love one another and live your life as if you were the winner,” President Banda said.
Other laureates at the ceremony were MultiChoice South Africa Group Holdings executive chairman Nolo Letele, Chief Godswill Akpabio, the governor of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria and Governor Moise Katumbi-Chapwe from Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo while the late Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills was represented by his widow Dr Ernestina Naadu Mills.
The awards recognise individuals who have selflessly devoted themselves to bringing about change in the lives of Africans within the last decade.
Meanwhile, President Banda has called on Africans to embrace home-grown initiatives that are aimed at empowering fellow Africans.
He was speaking at the Sovereign Suites in Limuru, about 20 kilometres outside Nairobi at a reception on Friday evening.
He noted that nearly all major international organisations had had their genesis outside Africa, the very reason why Africans needed to support the initiative of the Millennium Excellence Foundation, the organisers of Africa’s most prestigious international awards.
Past recipients of the awards include South Africa’s Desmond Tutu and Cyril Ramaphosa, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, former World Bank president James Wolfensohn and celebrated Nigerian writer Soyinka.
President Banda is expected to return to Lusaka this morning.
Congrats big man. Nizimya neighbour. Bakulapapa fye.
Some of these Awards don’t even make sense.TIA
Thats a true statesman being recognized all over for his enviable democratic credentials.Sata won’t even get a dog’s collar as a prize due to his brutality.Congrats RB you were the best.
lol “Sata won’t even get a dog’s collar as a prize due to his brutality”
The truth is you (RB) failed to rig the elections and also you could not fight PF. The army and ECZ warned you not to fight the will of the pipo. It was not your idea to accept defeat. If RB was a zimbabwean, he could have rigged the election and killled pipo just to be in power. But Zambia is a different place now.
do u ve proof both documentary and pictorial……chimbwi iWe don’t speak based on what you heard
Can yo Sata do that? Not in yo dreams chick – al – a!:((
PF hacked the ECZ system
Wow ati “you failed to rig elections & could not fight” ???? Since when did doing right become the mark of a failure? Are we so evil as to celebrate stealing & killing as the mark of a real man? Had RB succeeded doing wrong you’d still vilify him for it and that marks the depth of your visceral hatred of RB.Geez,sad,sad,sad.
Some of these awards,who nominates these people?this bugger did not give a damn about people’s wishes when he was president and to hear what he is saying it makes me wanna puke. He was forced to concede defeat in last year’s elections so what the heck is he saying? Very funny and sad at the same time.
People who think like you can’t marry for love, your mouth can tell that you have a woman older than your mother, that’s why you have no respect to elders,
thats hearsay my friend. Long as you cannot show us any documentary or visual proof in the form of video, that he was forced to concede defeat, then what u’re saying is a total load of BS. People are kinda pissed off right now with that degenerate in State House and his bunch of no-goods so I would choose this time not to talk ill of RB if i were u. Like it or not, your PF people have no direction whatsoever and I have played out every possible scenario as to how their tenure will pan out and its all bad. Coz compared to Sata irrespective of all allegations against RB, RB comes out a saint.
SHUT UP …PF KAPONYA IN THE US
nubian princess, you cant make sense of it coz yo education is very limited
RB you are a statesman unlike Kaunda who is a political cadre and has no morals what so ever
President for all Zambians
All these awards have amstardam behind trying to uplift RBs status. when any one digs deeper, you will agree with me
RB u were surely far much better than the Cobra with his minions. U deserve it. RB was never forced to concede defeat but encouraged to strong. He wld have abused the public order act this colonial constable is abusing.
OK
Your OK sounds evil
i agree with #2, these awards are senseless. isn’t he the one that cried fowl? and was called the ‘crying president’? is this what they call accepting defeat? the trophy or award should have been for failing to rig elections. in zambia ‘once a president always a leader’ i wish i could be allowed to rule as well even for a year.
FELLOW ZAMBIANS,
I ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT IN MY CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA. IN JUST TWO DAYS’ TIME, THE POLLING STATIONS WILL BE CLOSING AND THE 2011 TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS WILL BE AT AN END. IT WILL BE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA (ECZ) TO THEN COUNT THE VOTES CAST AND OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS AS THEY COME IN. THESE 2011 ELECTIONS ARE NOT OVER UNTIL THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE OFFICIAL RESULTS BY THE COMMISSION.
I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND MY PARTY WHEN I SAY THAT WE WILL ABIDE BY THE RESULTS. I HOPE THAT ALL THE OTHER PARTIES CONTESTING THE ELECTIONS WILL ALSO PLEDGE TO ABIDE BY THE FINAL RESULTS. MY MAIN CONCERN IN THE REMAINING TIME IS THAT ALL CANDIDATES, ALL PARTIES AND ALL SUPPORTERS CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITHIN THE LAWS OF OUR LAND. THE
Will sata ever be awarded with anything ?? Lets wait & see
Yes, with the most achieving in the Economic status for Zambia. Zambia is stable economically. Take it or leave it. He is the man of the moment.
Mr Hamiyanze you call fuel shortage, mealie meal shortage, unpaid farmers, plummeting kwacha/dollar ratio, erratic water supply in some parts of the country and rampant load shading as a stable economic state not to mention unemployment?? Things are worse than they were in MMD. Don’t just be a cadre lets look @ things the way they are and address them.Clearly we aint doing well economically as a country
I URGE AND EXPECT ALL ZAMBIANS TO MAINTAIN CALM AND HOLD BACK ON ANY PREMATURE CELEBRATIONS OR COMMISERATIONS UNTIL AFTER THE ECZ HAS OFFICIALLY REPORTED THE FINAL RESULTS. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH RUMOUR– AND I HOPE THAT IT IS JUST RUMOUR– THAT THERE WILL BE VIOLENCE.
FELLOW ZAMBIANS,
TO THOSE WHO MAY BE CONTEMPLATING ANY ILLEGAL ACTS OR INTIMIDATION OR– EVEN WORSE– PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, I HAVE THIS MESSAGE FOR YOU: I HAVE ORDERED THE POLICE TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE ALL THOSE WHO OFFEND. EXPECT NO MERCY, EXPECT NO FAVOUR, EXPECT ONLY THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW TO COME DOWN ON YOU.
WE, THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE, ARE PROUD OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE A NATION OF PEACE AND STABILITY. NOBODY WILL BE ALLOWED TO SMEAR THE GOOD REPUTATION OF OUR COUNTRY DURING THESE NEXT FEW DAYS.
#3 RB was a headless chap who solely depended on FTJ for dribbling
I really wonder if Sata will ever ever receive any honor. It doesn’t matter who says “mwashibukeni” to you, but it matters if none greets you.
Congratulations RB.
Nostradamus,
can u give respect to someone who’s married his grand daughter? Respect must be earned first. It needs to start from self. I guess the truth hurts coz RB was corrupt,arrogant and useless as a president. How soon we forget as zambians!
Nostradamus,
u must b a bootlicker for RB.i bet u used to benefit alot wen he was presido and now u cant stand that MCS is the presido.wat a joker.i cant give respect elders who marry the granddaughters.u ve to respect yourself b4 u demand respect from others.thats just natural.have a gud day.
Of course for deceiving 3million voters by a song from some drunk guy with dread locks
Can these people prove that RB was corrupt? I do not understand them, RB was hated even before he elected into office. He is innocent.
12 Exhaust Blown Diffuser – Even FTJ got something. Who are you to judge. The EU HAS JUST WON the Nobel Prize inspite of its involvement in wars
So FTJ is your benchmark ?? He can get one for destroying democracy and taking Zambia to the stone age if he continues the way his gone thus far. Lastly learn to differentiate a question from judgement. I was simply asking not judging
So FTJ is your bench mark?? Am sure he will be awarded for destroying democracy and taking Zambia back to the stone age. Lastly learn to understand if someone is questioning or not, i was simply asking not judging
Only Mugabe managed to meet Sata in Livingstone, but he got insulted by Sata started paying cash to the hotel for the service, in front of Mugabe, and never went back to Zambia.
George Bush got insulted while having dinner, he never even touched a glass of water.
Mrs. Banda of Malawi went to Zambia for independence celebrations, she walked back early morning, quietly, Kaseba might have chased her.
Which friend will ever honor Sata?
FELLOW ZAMBIANS,
I KNOW THAT YOU WILL WELCOME THESE VISITORS INTO OUR COUNTRY. BE HOSPITABLE AND SHOW THEM RESPECT. SHOW THEM THAT ZAMBIANS ARE FRIENDLY PEOPLE WHO RESPECT THE LAW. SHOW THEM THAT WE RESPECT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THE OFFICIAL RESULTS – WHATEVER THEY MAY BE.
EIGHT WEEKS OF CAMPAIGNING IS AT AN END. THE PARTIES HAVE MADE THEIR CASE. SOME CANDIDATES WILL HAVE IMPRESSED YOU; SOME WILL HAVE NOT. IT IS NOW FOR ALL ZAMBIANS TO WEIGH UP THE OPTIONS AND TO CAST YOUR VOTE ACCORDINGLY. WHO CAN YOU TRUST TO BE THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR YOUR WARD, YOUR CONSTITUENCY AND FOR STATE HOUSE? WHICH PARTY HAS THE BEST POLICIES FOR ZAMBIA?
ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. ON 20TH SEPTEMBER, WE ALL HAVE JUST ONE VOTE. DEMOCRACY GIVES
thats my president. all you haters keep on hating. you are just bitter that the man is international material recognised everywhere….. Go my my president!!! go get them!
The fact is this R.B guy was practically forced to accept defeat. Its no wonder he cried like a baby when he was giving his defeat-acceptance speach. Come on people, lets not be cheated, what was democratic about R.B’s behaviour? The guy never listened to peoples’ voices. He just never had a choice coz everyone was agaisnt his rule. Otherwise, its fair to say that they just failed to rig the elections. Nothing honouraly about that.
and your cobra listens to people’s views
Ati everyone was against who? What a big insult to the 990k zedians who voted for RB and only 180k votes separated RB and Sata.Those who voted RB are real people too.
The trend thus far is Zambian presidents become doctors @ some point..Am waitng for Dr Sata
Dr. Kenneth kaunda
Dr. FTJ Chiluba
Dr. LEVY P MWANAWASA, SC”
Mr. Lupiya Banda (was evicted before he could be honored with a doctorate)
Dr. MC Sata ???? coming soon Lol
the good old days, you’re fool RB was crying for you as we are talking no mealie meal in the copperbelt and the price is as high as 80
You deserved it RB and hope you get more.Let those bitter and envious PF grade7 losers keep yappin verbal diarrhea coz they can only dream of such recognition.
You deserve it big man , most of you PF supporters
Seem like haters , no need to hate lets be happy
Banda was a good president but he embraced corruption and that was his downfall. If only he had been less corrupt, he would even have been better than Mwanawasa
Zedians, let’s not diminish the institution of our presidency by lowering it to partisan or personal levels. President Banda is awarded, not for being “perfect” but for what the organizers deem remarkable & definitely unusual for most African loosing heads of states. Yes, we know & we have seen Banda’s shame & “nakedness”, but that’s because we belong to his household. No need to preach to the world about it. Lets celebrate his award & by so doing, celebrate ourselves. Not these parties or tribes. We are bigger than that. To the small minded, I’m sorry that this may be way over your top. But try
I PERSONALLY DO NOT AGREE THAT RUPIA DESERVES THOSE AWARDS. RUPIA WAS NOT DEMOCRATIC ,NO MATTER WHAT. I FEEL HE IS CHEATING THE WORLD TOO MUCH. THOSE PEOPLE WHO GIVE AWARDS SHOULD BE MAKING SOME RESEARCH FROM THE CITIZENS WHO WERE GOVERNED THE BY THAT LEADER BEFORE HE RECIEVE SUCH AWARDS.
I WOULD SUGGES THAT SOME AWARDS BE GIVEN EVEN TO SOME LEADERS WHO HAVE PAST AWAY LIKE LEVI MWANAWASA, OR CHILUBA THAN RUPIA BANDA.
HE DOESN`T DESERVE THOSE AWARDS. PLEASE JUST STOP IT,
Obviously we all cant agree on everything
Bitterness at its best hey.
Dude, I would take RB’s form of non-democracy over Sata’s version of democracy any day!
way to go..RB all the best..you are one of us..we miss in Zambia..
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Congrats RB
Just Laughing….indeed Africa is ‘ reputed a laughing-stoke in the world’. How do you give honour to someone for conceeding to what the people had decided? Then they should also honour Justice Mambilima for refusing to accept the temptations and manouvers from RB to have the results manipulated. Doesnt RB deserve something else of honour during his Presidency?
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Zambians have never experienced civil war, so they cannot appreciate this gesture and how powerful an incumbent President is, no matter what the opposition says. There would have been no Zambia to talk about by now if Banda had behaved badly.
jealous.. why? u v done well Mr president- proud of u.
This is the work of Amstadam and Nenani Banda, trying to make cake out of bread by creaming it like a cake…och!!! bread ni bread, no matter what kind of cream you use.
$5m US Dollars in his pocket for winning this award.
There we go, now he can even go and pay off $1m Loan, he used to build 4 luxury appartments in Kabulonga
Thandiwe, go and enjoy shopping and build more properties.
Someone will die with jealousy.
Abena Drama or should I say Dlama.
It is the Mo Ibrahim award that comes with $5 million. This one is just a hand shake and some good food at a posh hotel.
RB is looking really good. Calm, relaxed and very presidential. Not a worry in the world. What an achiever.
#25 your comment is good,the award is for RB s failure to rig properly and eventually accept or succumb to the pressure to leave office which some in the southern region have failed to do,also congratulation mambilima for the correct stance.viva Zambia.
why LT you not posting my comment?
ba shushu at work my friend, they do that sometimes
LT why moderating my comments?
What a loser.
An award for “failing the people and accepting being kicked out of state house” is nothing to be proud of. RB was no good leader, he was so bad that he made Zambians jump from frying pan in to the fire (Sata). Sata’s poor performance doesn’t make RB great his just a lesser evil in comparison but an evil nonetheless. Stepping aside after losing an election can not be a benchmark for rewarding African former heads of state prizes…what a joke of a continent.
Victory in defeat epitomised! Congrats RB!
Congrats Sir! Continue representing Zambia at that high level recognition awards. You are a true statesman.
Congrats bashi Mpundu.You indeed did a good thing.All you did was cry out loudly to remove the pain unlike other presidents who have had tried to cling on to power.You deserve the award.
Iwe Grant just give credit where its due. In Africa very few politicians concede defeat and give up power despite having lost elections. RB conceded defeat and here we are under PF.
ever since time in memorial RB was not the best president but not worse than sata.RB was the only man who can claim that he was the president for all zambians though a little bit tribal which is something all of us can not run away from,i miss you RB by the way mealie meal prices are 64000 from 38000pin the time you left .the wise said that change is relative of course we changed from bad to worse
When Super Ken left and the MMD took over, the price of mealie meal jumped from K37 to K115 but we cared less because we just wanted Dr Kaunda out. The exchange rate to a dollar was still in 2 digits until the MMD took over and tried to undo everything Dr Kaunda did. And after 20 years were was the country. Within 1 year, there are positives that we are seeing in the PF.
Rb is a leader he has been recognised world wide not a leader just go to state house and smoke dagga
We need to stop this attitude of hero worshipping people just because they carry a certain name or belong to a certain political party. Worship the values and principals in which we all believe in regardless of political affiliation. By handing over the instruments of power in the manner in which he did, I can safely say the man deserves to be added to the list of people who have championed democracy in Zambia. Well done Sir and I hope you can start lecturing our students at the University of Zambia on African democracy.
The only award Ukwa will get will be either a Ngoma award for Best Actor or a National Geographic Award for being a Chimbwi No Plan.
Malabishi ku kenya!
That Thug nearly destroyed this country. Even a grade zero saw that in Rupiah what can you tell us. Those awards Rupiah is receiving has nothing to do with with his leadership while in government but they are using him to encourage other stupid African leaders to step down if they have failed to govern and respect the will of people. So you can not read between the lines. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Zambians.
Your name describes you better
Its amazing that Banda is now a more recognised statesman than even Kaunda will be…. this must be paining Kaunda and Sata.
You can not put a good man down
Come 2016 PF loses elections and Sata steps aside for HH, Sata will also be hailed as a true statesman and a shining example to leadership in Africa? Why not award Statesmen for bringing development to the people i.e reduction in poverty, reduced unemployment, improved health care, reduced illiteracy etc these should the benchmarks for awarding prizes to African leaders not WELL DONE you failed the people but you’re a great leader and beacon of hope for stepping aside quietly! Levy once said “Zambians have a short memory span” so true today RB is hero???
LT approve my comments whats up?
Well the award is not so much about RB, but it one of the many avenues which is being used to encourage serving presidents to accept and concede defeat if they lose elections, to avert what happend in Kenya, Ivory Coast. Note ” … you were COMMANDER of the ARMED FORCES in your country … you could have EASILY disputed the results …” (LT: 2012)
GOD BLESS ZAMBIA
This kind of nonsense happens to all the former Zambian presidents.I have no doubt that Sata will be considered the best after he leaves office.This is because Zambians are just a bunch of emotional beings who gets piss-ed off and insult sitting presidents over small matters but easily forgets once the cause of that emotion(when that presidents leaves office) is removed.
Love hm or hate him: RB is our most decorated President. Congrats Sir.
RB nizee, ba paya farmer baladambwa lyonse fye. even them can even undo what RB has done even if they can not honour him- shame. just keep on with KK legacy of shortages of essential commodities, nationalism & humanism, abuse of POA, no vision for zambians, paya farmer, corruption of highest degree and keep on acquiting all thieves and criminals like kapoku and causing confusion in opposition with a view of achieving kaunda’s dream of one party state. the devil is a liar, u will not succeed
Love him or hate him: RB is our most humiliated former president, a “sitting” president rejected inspte of a very extravagant campaign!
GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
@#52 The Engineer,
You are very right and your comment is the painful truth which is hurting many.
There is no doubt that RB’s global recognition is not well received by Mr Sata and his right hand man KK. KK’s 27 years of autocratic rule can only be remembered for his brutality and nothing else.
These awards seem to confirm how low our democratic standards are in Africa. How could leaving your post after losing an election make you a beacon of change? Isn’t that what democracy is about? Shouldn’t they be looking at examples such as Thabo Mbeki? I do not believe that even a lowly educated Zambia would have expected anything different but for a defeated candidate to leave office and the winner to take over, as stipulated in the CONSTITUTION! Africans elsewhere should also expect the same!
Thank you because these awards are a joke and most important, they are being awarded to dictators who have used the gun to silence their country men. How can people honestly forget what happened in western province where innocent people were killed by the same joker being given an award?
You hit the nail on the head!!
These awards are a joke; Ala Bee respecting the will of the people;It had to take diplomats push him out and ECZ chairwoman to threaten to resign did this chap vacate State House. This award should be going to the ECZ chairlady not this chap Ala Bee.
How can RB the corrupt,tribalist,thief be awarded a democracy cert.too many jokes
Rupiah please run again in 2016. tavutika n vi PF
To some trully evil bloggers RB is damned if he’d rigged and stayed and damned still because he left peacefully and is getting an award for it.Either way RB can do no good thus those with visceral hatred of RB will still find some fault that he left.
This is a joke. Dr Kaunda fought for the liberation of african, especially southern africa and that cost us everything economically, and you are showering with an RB an award for conceding defeat even when he did everything including government to try and remain in power? No wonder most of the people honoured such as Museveni are dictators just like dictatorial Rupiah Banda. Abalye mbulu, balapalan. In an case, Dr Kaunda conceded defeat to Chiluba long before all the results were counted after he lost Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces and he’s more focused on trying to help africa fight HIV/AIDS and poverty than paner to the tantrums of an organisation honouring dictators.
Missing our President
nubian princess, TIA, your re/ctum
WHY NOT AWARD HH FOR LOSING 4 TIMES AND STILL THINK HE CAN MAKE IT.
Why RB and not KK, simple KK fought back after losing election and was only stopped by FTJ with the parentage clause in the constitution. KK was a dictator unlike RB who was a democrate. The awarda being given to RB are a recognition of having accepted democratic tenets take lead unlike staying in power after the will of the people has prevailed. RB deserves it and not thirst for power KK.
You cant compare Ukwa to Nyama Soya, Bwezani is intelligent Ukwa has failed us Zambians he can’t even manage to keep Cairo road clean. Banda is getting awards according to his achievements Over to you Ukwa ubunga bulishinga?
Kalonzo Musyoka is not Prime Minister of Kenya but the Vice President
Haters die RB I LOVE U,all the best man.
our former president looking good congratulations awisi mphundu
#22 GOOD OLD DAYS, You are a lier, all of us saw RB’s concession speech on TV. It was one of the most exellent speeches I have seen on our media and I have seen many. At no time did RB cry during that speech. Why do you peddle lies without shame, and how do these lies help Zambia or whatever party you support. No one forced RB to conceed defeat. He was given the results by his Party and confirmed by the ECZ and he immediately decided to issue the speech to conceed defeat. He was not happy, but did you expect him to have started celebrating like you? He was at the swearing ceremony for Sata and bahaved like the gentleman, that he is. I am sure your hatred which is sponsored by the false editorials from Mmembe continue to fuel your distorted view.