Body viewing of the late President Michael Sata’s by members of the general public, which started yesterday at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, has entered day two.
ZANIS reports that deputies of the defence chiefs took their turn and paid their last respects to Mr Sata and Commander In-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Communications and Transport Deputy Minister, Panji Kaunda and his other ministry counterpart, Mwimba Malama also viewed Mr Sata’s body.
Former fourth Republican President, Rupiah Banda said in an interview soon after viewing President’s Sata’s body that Mr Sata was a friend who would greatly be missed by not only him but the nation at large.
Mr Banda, who was flanked by his Administrative Secretary, Mikatazo Wakumelo, disclosed that he had a strong relationship with President Sata to which he claimed that he had benefited from the services of the former Head of State.
“I have lost an active senior citizen and a friend and it is very sad indeed losing such a person. Michael and I had a strong relationship and a I have lost a friend,” Mr Banda said.
He recollected that the late President Sata returned his passport that enabled him to travel to South Africa for a medical review.
The former Head of State said he peacefully handed over power to the late President Sata and wished that there would be no violence during this period of national mourning and three-month transition period under Acting President, Guy Scott.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson, Irene Mambilima, in a separate interview, disclosed that two newly constructed office accommodation blocks have been completed and could have been launched by President Sata had he still been alive.
Justice Mambilima who was flanked by Commission Board members and Commission Spokesperson, Cris Akufuna, commended the late President for increasing funding to the Commission.
On the proposed Presidential poll, Mrs Mambilima disclosed that the Commission has started making preparations for the Presidential election to be held early next year.
Mrs Mambilima said she would officially write to the Government through the Ministry of Finance to request for funds from the treasury.
On the actual budget required, Mrs Mambilima said the nation would be informed after the burial of the departed Zambian President.
“As l am talking to you right now, two office accommodation buildings have been completed and they could have been handed over to us by President Sata if he had not passed on,” she said.
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema, said Mr Sata was the longest and true servant of the people who gave his life serving the Zambian people.
Mr Hichilema said Mr Sata served in the first republic under UNIP and the previous MMD administration and that demonstrated he was a hard worker.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Lusaka District Commissioner (DC), Ashell Kampengele, wept un-controllably after viewing Mr Sata’s body.
Mr. Kampengele later shunned to speaking to journalists.
Lusaka Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe, told the Journalists that he would arrange for an interview with them because the DC was still mourning the Head of State.
President Sata died in London on October 28 and his remains arrived in the country Saturday morning aboard a private airline accompanied by the First Lady, Christine some Cabinet Ministers and members of the family.
The late President Sata would be put to rest at Embassy Park in Lusaka on November 11.
We are tired of old cargos ruling Africa!!
Indeed some of us know Sata had a good heart.. haters will hate but that wont erase him from the books of history.. while we can be assured that some bloggers here will never be more than arm chair critics with no dent on history other than been a statistic.
RB please save us the crap. What do you mean active when all three years that this man was president he was INACTIVE and spent most of it in bed? …and guys there is no way Sata can turn to be an angel simply because he is dead. He was a liar, arrogant, a thief, violent, womanizer, tribalist, ignorant, hater. That’s how I remember Sata dead or alive…and there are no two ways about it/
RB please save us the BS. What do you mean active when all three years that this man was president he was INACTIVE and spent most of it in bed? …and guys there is no way Sata can turn to be an angel simply because he is dead. He was a liar, arrogant, a thief, violent, womanizer, tribalist, ignorant, hater. That’s how I remember Sata dead or alive…and there are no two ways about it.
Seems the people of Zambia have nothing better to do with their time. Indians and Lebanese…etc.. businesses are open! While Zambians mourn.
I can never imagine myself queueing up under the hot sun to go and see a dead President! Never ever in this life time.
what does indian and lebanese supplies to zambian , its daily commodity , you might have everything in your house , but others dont . people needs to survive and mourn president at the same time !
then just dont go , because you dont even feel what mourn means .
Michael Chilufya Sata, was a great son of Africa who died with his boots on, we will miss him.
with his boots on.tell us what does that mean?
Now Lungu will die. Followed by Kambwili. One more PF big shot will follow. GBM and Kabimba will make a comeback.After the PF take Zambia to the brink of blood shed.MMD will then emerge to take over the country with Banda at the helm. Amen
Rest in peace my beloved president. You will be greatly missed by millions of Zambians at hope and abroad. My condolences to Madame Dr Christine Kaseba Sata and all the family members of the late president. I will be missing my dear president greatly, Zambian needed him the most for the full 2nd term as he was a real hard working president just like our former father of the nation Super Ken .I am very upset to be far away from home, I am great full to got or allowing me to have travelled to Zambia in Sept 2011 to take part in casting my vote. I was amongst the hundreds of thousand who celebrated in the streets of Lusaka over Mr Satas victory .Wished god gave me opportunity to bid farewell to my beloved president for the last time tomorrow. Rest in peace, you will always be remembered
please pardon me for two typing errors, meant at home and god instead of got. God bless you all Thank you.
RB is not crying but when he lost and handed over power he cried , TIYENI UKO AKULU ONSE MULIYE NANSONI, thus why KAMWANA KATONTHO KA THANDIWE NDIYE KAKAZIKANU
May the soul of our departed president Mr michael chilufya Sata rest in peace,Mr Sata will be rembered greatly for his contribution to the developement of this country zambia.
NEVERS SEKWILA MUMBA FOR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. ZAMBIA SHALL BE SAVED. YOUR HOUR HAS COME TO RULE ZAMBIA IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.