By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
The Patriotic Front (PF) party has urged citizens in the country to emulate late former Republican President Rupiah Bwezani Banda by loving one another without thinking about tribe, creed, religion or political divide.
Speaking when senior PF officials visited the funeral house for the late former President at Belvedere Lodge, Wednesday, Acting party President Given Lubinda said President Banda loved beyond politics.
Mr Lubinda said President Banda went through trials and tribulations before he became President but never did he show that he had people who had pursued him when he became Head of State.
“President Banda still continued to exhibit love for Zambians and never showed hate towards those who pursued him or had differences with. That is why he will go into annuls of the History of Zambia for being the First President to lose Presidential elections and still attend the inauguration of his successor,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said President Banda is a giant in many respects who served his country diligently.
“A Giant has fallen. A true patriot has succumbed. He succumbed to a condition he himself worked hard to try and eradicate. In the three years he was President, the health sector was one of his most prominent priorities,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said President Banda will be emulated because the political divide does NOT mean enmity.
“We in the Patriotic Front shall fondly remember him for the love he shared with our founding President Micheal Chilufya Sata. They were close friends even when they were leading different political parties they still remained friends,” he said.
Mr Lubinda on behalf of the party also delivered messages of goodwill to the former First Lady Thandiwe Banda.
And, PF Lusaka Provincial Chairman Hon Christopher Shakafuswa’s Committee that received and saw off the Acting President included Provincial Youth Chairman Kelvin Kaunda and his Executive, Provincial Secretary Sam Zulu, Vice Secretary Clement Tembo, Treasurer Stanford Kayame, Vice IPS Stanley Chumya, Women’s League Secretary Councillor Annie Chinyanta among others.
