Retired veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga ,commonly known as VJ, has described the late Fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda a gentle giant who opted for friendship instead of confrontation.
Dr Mwaanga , who was Foreign Affairs minister , says the untimely death of Mr Banda has devastated him beyond belief after a six decades friendship
ZANIS reports Dr. Mwaanga in an interview said late Mr Banda was a person who always looked at the strength rather than weakness of any person he interacted with.
“The passing of my brother and longtime friend Rupiah Bwezani Banda has devastated me beyond belief. We have been more than close, for more than six decades.
“ He was a gentle giant, who always opted for friendship as opposed to confrontation. We stood tall together in times of sorrow and happiness. He was an accomplished diplomat and statesman. He looked for positives in people, rather than their weaknesses,” Dr. Mwaanga stated.
The retired politician noted that Zambia has in the late Mr Banda lost one of its greatest sons, at a time when his vast experience and knowledge were most needed.
And MMD President and former Republican Vice President Nevers Sekwila Mumba said Zambia has lost a leader in Mr. Banda who he described as a profound, dedicated family man, knowledgeable and intelligent President.
Dr. Mumba said that under his leadership as President, Zambia’s economy blossomed and became an economic hub for investment.
“President Banda became God’s answer for our party MMD and the Nation when our late President Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died suddenly in 2008. He picked up running the nation without skipping a beat.
‘ He built on the economic gains of late President Mwanawasa and made Zambia to become one of the world’s ten fastest growing economies. We acknowledge his great contribution to making Zambia a better place.
“ We fondly called him RB, a President for all Zambians. We shall miss him. So long, Your Excellency,” Dr. Mumba said.
Meanwhile President of the Socialist Party Zambia Fred M’membe said the untimely death of Mr Banda was a shock to his party and family.
Dr M’membe offered his condolences to the bereaved family and the country , in general.
”On behalf of the Socialist Party and indeed on my own behalf, also offered their deepest condolences on the passing of former Zambian president Rupiah Bwezani Banda.
“We join the Banda family, friends and the entire Zambian nation in mourning his loss. May his soul rest in peace.”Dr M’membe said.
And Democratic Party (DP) President Harry Kalaba urged youths to emulate Mr. Banda who served the nation from an early age.
Mr Kalaba stated that like many youths of his time, President Banda made himself available to fight for a just cause of liberating Zambia from years of segregation and minority rule.
He noted that the late Mr Banda along with other youths was part of the movement that would eventually liberate this nation and give birth to Zambia on 24th October, 1964.
Rupiah Banda was a good man, who trusted everyone. That was his failing, corruption really took off under his leadership as he simply didn’t believe that civil servants could be so crooked. The MoH scandal still hasn’t been fixed! Good man, bad president, and we are still suffering. Edgar China Lungu saw how easy it was and here we are: a bankrupt country and civil servants who think corruption is a right not a vice.
RB was painted black by a partisan media. The Post Newspapers mount a very vicious campaign against RB to the extent of even using insulting language against him. When he distributed food hampers that included sugar in Eastern province during election campaigns, The Post began to refer to him as Sugar Daddy in apparent reference to his youthful 2nd wife. For the whole of that period the tabloid’s editorials and headlines were all about RB. To date there are still people who believe those lies but RB stood tall and rose above all that. No human-being should ever do that to a fellow human-being. I hope we’ve learnt our lessons. Rest in peace RB, President for all Zambians
A very good President, ranking among the best two Presidents we have ever had. Humble and a liking of Zambian languages ,RB
A story was told by a Presidential security Police Officer of RB, When one Police Officer rushed to the gents with diarrhea when RB was already in the motorcade for the President to leave state house for a function, Senior Police officers started scolding the middle ranked officer on why he was going to the toilet when the President was already in the motorcade, and we are told RB was upset and scolded the senior Police Officers and told them to leave the guy alone because the guy had to answer the call of nature and he told them I am just a simple President and not a demi god, and let the guy go to the toilet, we are told he told the officer that if he had not finished his toilet business, he could go back and the motorcade would wait. Such was the man. RIP RB
Rupiah Banda was a good man, with his integrity intact. It was a pity that he simply didn’t believe that civil servants could be so crooked – but they were and corruption became rampant. Especially in the MoH. Edgar China Lungu followed the example and rolled it out over the entire government. That’s what we have today, councils, ministries, government agencies, police, army are totally corrupt and the Zambian population thinks it’s NORMAL.
He mismanaged NAMBOARD
Evidence please Mr bwethu bwethu ?
He was called nayama soya, belittled for taking on a youthful wife, accused of pockecting funds for oil, accused and arrested fro alledgedly climbing walls to write graffiti at the height of ‘black mamba’ and ‘zero option’ lies, one banker grabbed his house and put it on rent to zero benefit of an aging man,…..today they shed tears…yes they do because they know what the did to an innocent soul….Rest in peace RB a president for all…..’Gulani manganda osati magalimoto”
@5 Patriot
Tell us how. There is not a single person in Zambia who successfully managed a parastatal under UNIP.
There is not a single person in Zambia who successfully managed a parastatal TO THIS DAY LET ALONE THE PAST
Vj and his womanising pedophile son are two slimey crooked people. Trust them at your own risk
To tell the truth, it is so cool that Vernon Mwaanga speaks so highly of Rupiah Banda because it removes all doubts that late Fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda is truly a decent person who deserves a huge respect. I admire people who emphasise and point out the strengths of any person they interact with because it is such a rare thing. It is so wonderful that Mr Banda always looked at the strength rather than weakness of any person he interacted with because it indicates that he was strong inside and that he had such valuable human qualities. It is unique when the President combines political acumen and humanity, making a huge contribution to the prosperity of the country and therefore people. I can say that all the good returns and I really hope that it all paid off for Mr Banda…