Sampa-Bredt stood against injustices – HH

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia has lost a vibrant woman in Violet Sampa-Bredt, who stood against injustices.

In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Hichilema said Reverend Sampa-Bredt, who died of cancer in Germany on March 29, was a woman who contributed in the fight for democracy in Zambia.

“I remember Rev Sampa-Bredt as a Council of Churches secretary general fighting for democracy and as a young politician, I admired her character,” Mr Hichilema said.

He said it was with a deep sense of shock and grief that he learnt the passing of Rev Sampa-Bredt.

Rev Sampa-Bredt was the Chawama member of Parliament from 2006 to 2011 under the Patriotic Front.

She was the first female to serve as Council of Churches general secretary in Zambia.

Rev Sampa-Bredt died on Sunday in Germany where she was being treated for cancer.

And family spokesperson Davies Ntala said Germany is making arrangements for transportation of the body.
Mr Ntala confirmed that the family is still waiting for a response from Germany as to when the body will arrive in the country.

And Zambia’s Ambassador to Sweden Reverend Edith Mutale has described the death of Rev Sampa-Bredt as a “major loss”.

In a statement issued by Deputy Ambassador Anthony Mukwita, Rev Mutale says Rev Sampa-Bredt was “an inspiration to many female reverends and a rare Christian gem”.

She said Rev Sampa-Bredt demonstrated a strong resolve to break barriers across gender divides, both in her work as a missionary, and also as a politician at a time women of the cloth would probably stir clear of politics.