Fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda, has urged leaders to emulate Nelson Mandela’s reconciliatory and loving spirit if the world is to become a better place to live in.
The retired head of State has observed that the former South African president’s positive attitude after his release from prison in 1990 forestalled what could have become a crusade of vengeance against his jailers when he became that country’s first black president in 1994.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg News for a yet-to-be-published article, President Banda says the anti-apartheid icon, who spent 27 years in jail, was an embodiment of the qualities that any leader needed to help create a harmonious society.
He says in spite of all the suffering that Mr Mandela and his African National Congress colleagues had endured at the hands of the apartheid regime, he never allowed the bitterness of the past to cloud his judgment when he became South African president.
President Banda recalls that the 94-year-old Mr Mandela, who is in critical condition in a South African hospital, inspired many young politicians with his enduring and principled stand against apartheid at a time when he could have chosen fleeting comfort over hardship.
President Banda was then senior governor of the city of Lusaka when Mr Mandela visited the Zambian capital on 27th February, 1990 and was the first Zambian government official to shake hands with him as he alighted from a Zambia Airways plane to mark his first visit outside South Africa in 27 years.
It was also under Governor Banda’s watch that the Lusaka city council honoured Mr Mandela with the status of free man of the city, upon making Zambia his first foreign country of choice, 16 days after leaving Victor Verster prison.
President Banda is one of several retired and serving African presidents whom Bloomberg News writer Franz Wild has interviewed for the upcoming article.
We mpupu we, Mandela never stole from anyone like you did.
Bitter people like you can never understand important principles like the presumption of innocence. If asked to detail what RB stole you will fail to come up with anything.
@FAN OF MADIBA, the principles are there for a all to see what RB stole. Removing that clause he did is enough evidence. He is a thief and he will remain a thief.
Too feel that is the best thing for our Presido MCS to do, forgive and reconcile with this man for peace to reign in this mighty nation. HE MCS stands to gain a lot if he took that step. Not all is lost as the man is still innocent until the courts proves so i.e. if at all they’ll ever prove so looking at how corrupt the whole system and calibre of witnesses at hand.
former preso RB is asking others to do what he failed to do himself when he was preso!!!! Do unto others what you would want them do unto you,so the bible says….lol
He took Christine Kaseba to South Africa for treatment.
Sata has illegally withdrawn the passport of Banda and all opposition leaders are dieing in Zambia now.
He forgave Chiluba. Mwaibala pamene apa bwana!!!
My friend RB you’re dealing with hard hearted vengeful PF animals with no remorse who don’t have the word “reconciliation” in their tribal dictionaries.Let those who’ve already convicted you even before evidence is produced eat their words Mr prsident.
@zulu banda the president has no right to forgive a criminal and release him if the courts of law find him guilty, thats why european govts seem to align themselves with sata’s stance on RB and most zambians, like you and HH, do not understand. My dear get educated on this one.
Its is worng for RB to ask for forgiveness for having stolen money.Mandela was put in prison for political reasons not for stealing from the people.He was atually put in prison for fughting for the people.RB was fighting against te people and he does not deserve forgiveness because he knew that what he was doingwas wrong!!Please RB dont compare yourself to Mandela you are in a lower league!!
RB in this article has not compared himself with Mandela nor has he asked to be forgiven for anything. All RB has done is to point out the great qualities of Mandela. I fail to understand why you would have a problem with that. The article is about celebrating Mandela’s life. Clearly “What a life” needs to learn a few lessons from Madiba’s life.
RB, when your children and yourself were busy looting our meagre national resources, did you think of the poor Zambians? When your cops under your instructions were busy tear-gassing Sata, Mpombo and company, did you think about reconciliation? Chiwaminafye imwe ba RB kanshi. Let the law take its course baba, and just leave Nelson Mandela alone as he is on his way to rest in eternal peace.
Assuming what you say is right, are you missing the point of what makes Madiba great? Take a deep breath and think about it.
…………now LUCIFER THE SERPENT is busy threatening and beating up opposition and giving high profile jobs to relatives and friends…….. ZAMBIAN POLITICS IS A CIRCUS.
THE BEST IS WORK HARD, MAKE A LIVING AND LIVE YOUR LIFE OTHERWISE U KN BURST A VEIN
AS FOR MANDELA, WILL THERE BE ANYBODY LIKE HIM???
MHSRIP
Its very sad,the man was in office and never emulated Nelson Mandela and never listened to any advise. Voilence was torelated and we were victims. His administration persecuted my business interest and if he had won Elections I don’t kwon wht could have happen to some of us. But I have forgiven the man bt I can’t forget wht he did. May God forgive mr Banda.
RB is so very right i tribute him for this
i mean it is a valid point
The fact that long suffering and tolerant Zambians voted out Mr.RB after only 3 years at the apex is testimony that Mr. RB was a no do gooder. He therefore has no moral right to preach about goodness and peace. It’s like a prostitute preaching about chastity. Best for him to keep silent until he is cleared of theft cases, then he could shout from rooftops about morality.
People just wanted change. RB is no comparison to the political intolerance happening now.
The Chikopa saga.
The Supreme Court flawed rullings
The DBZ saga of Mmembe Fred
Mwakalombe corrupt appointment
Misuse/absuse of public funds in unwarranted bye-elections
The removal of subsidies to fund unplanned districts
This man failed to forgive chibombamilimo, what is he preaching now. leave the great man Mandela alone.
my thoughts exactly!
Thank God Mandela chose freedom AND RECONCILIATION. I shudder to think what would have happened had he chosen the ideology of Malcolm X, i.e. a ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life’. It would have made even Islamic extremists look like a mere rehearsal on earth. To choose to forgive someone when you have all the power and justification not to do so, is a true mark of honorable character. My only problem is I am not sure RB is the right person to champion this topic on behalf of Zambia.
Well put Cactus!
FAN OF MADIBA dont be stupid if yopu benefitted from the stollen money your HERO Bwezani Banda stole from us your campaigns for forgiveness will not be entertained, the man is using the Mandela scenario creatively to win forgiveness from PF led Government, why should he be forgiven when he is still enjoying our money to date.you are just a foolish rascal who has no regard for the poor man,Criminals are meant to be in prison,,soon his presumption of innocence will be proved to the contrary and he will be legally adressed as a convict. so stop wasting your time FAN OF MADIBA ,,Banda has no moral right to talk of forgiveness because alot of zambian suffered at his hands ,he was giving out contracts right in his bedroom and denied able zambian rights to aquire contracts .
A well meaning zambian knows how RB and his sons looted zambia in just 3 years.I have no kind words for him personally he devasted our little economy within a shortest time.What legacy has he left for him to be talking on Nelson Mandela.PLZ RB JUST SHUT UP DO NOT FOOL ZAMBIANS
The well meaning zambian who bases his/her thinking on hate?/media rumour.
Even Government has failed to itemise wat Rupiah stole. Even with all the hate and predudice
Don’t worry Mr Banda, Zambian jails are a paradise to you chipata people.
RB is very right on this issue and indeed we should always strive for reconciliation for humanity to live in peace. But sadly enough, even RB himself did not know about reconciliation when was leading the people of Zambia. He preached vengeance against people like Shakafuswa and those that opposed. Has RB reconciled with all those former MPs and ministers he pushed around? Let him lead by example, kukambakamba che is not enough. I would urge him to take the first step, hiring thugs like Amsterdam to attack your perceived enemies and in the background you preach reconciliation, does not amount to being honest!
Let emulate Kaunda. Emulating Mandale is no-brainer. Even Grd 1 knows. Why do pipo like stating the obvious. RB pls think outside the box.
Kwanza, clear your name at the courts of justice, then your request maybe tabled, from prison!
But what has RB said in this interview which is wrong? Does anyone disagree with the actual observations RB has made in this interview?
RB SHOULD SHUT HIS MOUTH. SEE HOW MUCH HE WANTED TO DESTROY THE MWANAWASA LEGACY. HE PARADED HIS NAME ALL OVER THE PROJECTS LEVY LEFT. IT IS ONLY UKWA WHO HAS BROUGHT BACK THAT DIGNITY BY RENAMING ALL OF THEM AFTER LEVY. HE IS A VERY HATEFUL MAN. TO DAY HE WANTS TO WIN SYMPATHY BY MISUSING MANDELA NAME.
HIS FRIEND WILLIAN MEMED PEOPLE IN CHONGWE (BY CUTTING THEIR MATAKO AND LUPIYA NEVER CONDEMED THAT. NELSON NEVER MEMED HIS PEOPLE BUT FOUGHT FOR THEM. SHUT………………………………………UPUPUPUPUP PLEASE
The former president should clear his name first. Mandela is not married to an under 5. Mandela did not steal. Mandela did not want to away from the long hand of law. Mandela did not….. the list is endless
Sorry RB, we don’t remember you admitting your sins or returning the stolen wealth for you to expect people to be reconciliatory towards you! whereas the whites sinned against Mandela and it up to him alone to forgive them, you have sinned against all Zambians and expect MCS to reconcile with you on all our behalfs! unfortunately it is not his call to make it is OUR money and we say GO TO JAIL THIEF!!!
SO IMWE A RB MUZIBA CHABE, ISE TIMICHITA EXHUZI CHABE? HOW FOOLISH?
Dear Mr president, the question is do we do adopt the MADIBA approach this once or every time governments change? i would like to know before i comment.
Mr. R.B Banda,not long ago,you persecuted a lot of people including repossessing one man’s bank and you’re preaching forgiveness just because you no longer have power!I could have appreciated if you exercised forgiveness when power was still in your hands.
rb, bring all the money you stole then we forgive you, PERIOD.
RB saved Kaseba’s life and saved Chiluba.
In SA there was truth and reconciliation. Indeed Rb must confess his stealing and then ask for forginess from us and not from HE MCS. Ba rb u are a worst hypocrite just like Nevers Mumba.