Veteran Freedom Fighter, Politician and Academician John Mwanakatwe has been put to rest.
Mr. Mwanakatwe, who died on Sunday at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after an illness, was put to rest at the Old Leopards Cemetery following a valedictory session at the Lusaka High Court and a funeral service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the cathedral of the Holy Cross to pay their last respect to the veteran politician and academician.
Vice President George Kunda and his wife,Ireen, First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, Second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba and his wife,Regina, Cabinet Ministers, opposition party leaders, Members of the Diplomatic corps, the clergy and members of the general public paid their last respects to the late.
The late veteran educationist and lawyer was one of Zambia’s founding fathers and freedom fighter who rose to be the first minister of Education, Finance and secretary General of the republic of Zambia.
Speaking after Burial at the Old Leopards Cemetery, Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa said Zambia has yet again been robbed of a true son of the soil.
Dr Mwansa said the late Mr. Mwanakatwe belonged to a small but rare breed of Zambians with special commitment and responsibility to shape the country’s future.
He said Mr. Mwanakatwe was dedicated to emancipate humanity from the various problems they faced.The minister described the late politician as a man of great courage and vision who fought for the country and the world at large a better place.
Dr Mwansa further said that Mr. Mwanakatwe had the ability to look beyond the narrow and present state to the future.
He said through his many achievements and writing, many people will be able to reflect on the monumental achievements of the late Mwanakatwe.
And first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda said freedom fighters fought for independence because of the love for the people.
Dr Kaunda said the late Musokotwane fully participated in the independence struggle because of the love he had for his brothers and sisters in the country.
And in a vote of thanks, family representative Jacob Sikazwe thanked Government for the support rendered during the illness and subsequent burial of Mr Mwanakatwe.
Mr. Sikazwe further thanked Government for recognizing Mr. Mwanakatwe’s contribution to the country and for according him a state funeral
ZANIS
rest in peace ala mwalibomba kale nizi
Good Man … An all around nice fella … Rest in peace.
My respect. There is time for everything, and this is a hard time.
NOTHING IS NEW UNDER THE SUN. Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 Verse 9 . OF ALL THE NEWS TO BLOG ABOUT JUST TO BRING THIS SORROW JUNK……I AM GOING TO SLEEP …..GO GET THE NEWS MAKING HEADLINES ….POLITICS WILL DO…….OR CHECK ON NKOLE HE IS STILL FACING CHARGES OF BUYING STOLEN LAND……..ANOTHER CHARGE OF BEING FOUND IN POSSESSION OF GAME MEAT AT THE AIRPORT IN KIGALI.
“Diplomatic call” Lusaka Times, please learn to edit stories as you receive them from ZANIS. You know that they have a terrible crop of journalists. It is not Diplomatic Call, it is Diplomatic Corps, PLEASE.
Nice old man, John Mupanga Mwanakatwe. He never had airs, and had time for anyone who recognised him. If only all our politicians had JMM’s humility. Hamba kahle, umudoda wethu.
Sounds like he had a good send off.
Awe chabipa mwe..!!!!
Rest in peace..
May my tribesman from Mbala rest in eternal peace. Twatazya!
Kafundisha mubalamba .Lesa amisunge muchibite chakwe.
when he was sick, when he needed that money to fetch good medication and facilities, we were silent. when he dies then we kill bulls, goats chickens and buy plash coffins all for the body which will decompose in two months time. we in zed are too much of hypocrites. the stroke he suffered from could have been managed had he been flown to london or famous backdoor south africa. yet tetamalilo is enjoying the coolness and nice hospital food and this chap has not even contributed even an iota of wealth in the common zedian man
Rest in peace, chief. Hope there’s a younger man out htere who’s inspired to walk beside those footsteps.
Rest in peace big man..as they say whatever has a beginning haz an end it happens dats where we are all destined anywayz!!!
It looks like its a day for the veteran politicians to be put to rest, our own Mr Mwanakatwe in Zambia rest in peace, and our own long serving US-massachusetts Senator Kenedy died of brain cancer was put to rest today. may the two political giants rest in peace.
When is Regina going to jail, I thought she was found guilty and sentenced? but she is still going to public functions.
Dr Mwansa further said that Mr. Mwanakatwe had the ability to look beyond the narrow and present state to the future. BUT NO BODY PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT HE PROPOSED NEITHER KK NOR FTJ
Any news about Teta?
Condolences to the Mwanakatwes. He was indeed a hard working fellow. I enjoyed reading his books about the development of education in Zambia. He’s indeed a rare breed of hard workers.
Now that the DPP has squashed the Task Force’s high court appeal against Chiluba, let RB immediately dissolve the Task Force.
This man was presidential material…But by the very nature of our politics.such men of high integrity stand no chance at all. We need more Mwanakatwes..
NOBODY CAN AGUE YOU CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOTHER ZAMBIA. IF WE ALL CONTRIBUTE LIKE YOU DID ZAMBIA CAN NEVER BE THE SAME.
R.I.P
What a sad week. Mr. Mwanakatwe really was a genuinely nice man. I though Ted Kennedy’s funeral is on Saturday? An era has really come to an end. Zambia needs fresh and intelligent politicians. The current crop is an embarassment.
As an Alumni of UNZA I am grateful for this man who was instrumental in setting up UNZA as well as being one of the first pupils to enrol into grade 1 after independence I am acutely aware of the contribution Mwanakatwe made to our well being. Thank you, sir. I hope you accepted Jesus as your advocate before the great white throne, then and then only will your soul rest in perfect peace.
iwe no #10 please this is not time to talk about tribe or were you come from ,we are mourning a very important person in life .it is important for our politicians to learn from the late honest all times very difficult to replace and he was not petty so you just keep your mouth shut.
What is the latest on our man Teta? Wishing him well.
God give strength to the surviving members of this family.They have been going through a bad perio. Last time it was the death of Mrs Mwanakatwe, followed by son now its the old man. The man had done his work on earth, ermed his children with better education whilst others who had opportunities invested in leisure and other worthless ventures. Can some explain this man who did so mcuh for this country was not taken abroad for specialist treatment or he preferred to as matter of personal principle to be treated like any other ordinary person at UTH.
MHSRIP
Rest in peace you will never be forgoten
Sad to learn about the death of hon.mwanakatwe the great I will miss the man because i regarded him as my own .that man was so intelligent,to tell you the fact very few leaders in the zambian government at the moment could have muched his intelligency. that man as far as any reasonable zambian is concerned must be remembered forever.therefore, i am for the idea that the lusaka international airport be named after him so that it can be called….The mwanakatwe international airpot.m.h.s.r.i.p…….Danny kambele .united kingdom
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