President Edgar Lungu has accorded an official funeral to the late Former Cabinet Minister in the United National Independent Party (UNIP) government ,Benjamin Mibenge who died on Tuesday, December 8th,2020 .
President Lungu has also declared tomorrow, Friday, December 11th, 2020 as a day of national mourning for Lieutenant General Mibenge’s immense contribution to the development of the nation.
Lt Ge, Mibenge 78, died at Forest Park Hospital in Lusaka where he was receiving medical attention.
The Late Mibenge served as Minister of Foreign Affairs between November, 1990 and October, 1991 in the cabinet of first President Kenneth Kaunda.
In a statement issued to media in Lusaka today, by Secretary to the Cabinet, Simon Miti, President Lungu recalled that Lt Mibenge served in many portfolios including that of the Commander of the Zambia National Defence Forces as well as in the Foreign Service for ten years and also as Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada, Ethiopia and Namibia.
“I’m saddened by the death of Lt Gen Mibenge as he was a patriotic Zambian who served diligently in the public Service,” President Lungu stated in a statement.
President Lungu has since mourned with the bereaved family of the late Mibenge during this difficult time and has extended sincere condolences on the sad loss of the former cabinet Minister.
“The funeral gathering is being held at his residence at plot number LUS/12305, off Bulwe Road, Woodlands Extension, Lusaka and he will be buried at the leopards hill memorial Park in Lusaka, tomorrow Friday, December 11th, 2020,” read the statement.
“The burial programme will be preceded by a funeral church service to be held at the Anglican cathedral of the holy cross at 10:00 hours.
Members of the public are reminded that the official funeral of Lt, Ge Mibenge has been restricted to close family members and selected senior government officials in observance of health guidelines on the spread of the coronavirus.
I remember him addressing us as a commander-in-chief of the combined Zambia Defense Forces @ Kitwe Skills Center, in early 1980, after we were recalled for mobilisation during the Zimbabwe liberation war. MHSRIEP
Well deserved. Even me when I die I only ask for one thing. A state funeral followed by a street party. I want my life celebrated as I used to live it. No upnd supporters should attend.
Condolences to the family ?
Deepest condolences to the family
@Kaizar Zulu, you funeral will held at the Landfills.
Sad to hear the news. Condolences to the family.
This man was probably suffering in poverty, that state funeral money should just be given to the family.
In many countries in the world a State funeral is offered only to a few people, such as heads of state. In Zambia, we are so obsessed with death that we think we should honour everyone who dies even if we insulted them everyday that they lived. You notice when Sata fell ill, Levy acted. I can imagine Lungu saying, ‘I have learnt with shock and deep sorrow the death of HH. He was apatriotic Zambian.’ This is what we are good at in Zambia, praising the dead who cannot answer because we fear their ghosts haunting us if we say bad things about them. No one is especially patriotic just because they are politician.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mibenge was a gallant soldier, he braved the savage attack on with Kenny Musokotwane by UNIP zealots as they were hounded out of office at that sham national conference. May your soul rest in peace, son of the soil. You were not part of the Black Mamba illegality