Africa praises Zambia’s late ex-president Rupiah Banda
Zambians are somber as they prepare to silence their former (fourth) Republican President, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, affectionately known as “RB,” who died of colon cancer on March 11, 2022 at the age of 85.
He was diagnosed and treated for the disease in 2020.
The funeral was scheduled for Friday March 18 at Embassy Park Presidential Cemetery in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
Current President Hakainde Hichilema has since declared the day a national holiday. The country has observed seven days of national mourning in Banda’s honor.
Banda was greeted by the army with a 21-gun salute from President Hichilema at a state funeral held Thursday, March 17 at the Lusaka Exhibition Grounds, attended by various foreign dignitaries, mainly incumbent and former presidents of the African continent
Local residents watched the live broadcast of national broadcaster ZNBC and others lined the streets of Lusaka to watch the late president’s funeral procession as his remains were transported to the site of the state funeral.
Foreign leaders in attendance included President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe; Hage Geingob from Namibia; former presidents of; Botswana, Ian Khama, Malawi, Bakili Muluzi, Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano and Jakaya Kikwete from Tanzania. Angola, Kenya and South Africa were represented at ministerial level.
Zambia’s President Hichilema urged the mourners and the nation to emulate Banda’s spirit of tolerance.
“We should embrace tolerance, as President Banda has always done. Let’s be kind, not to one, but to all. This is priceless, but valuable nonetheless. We say thank you to our dear Fourth President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda! Thank you for the immense contributions you have made to the betterment of our motherland – Zambia, the continent and the rest of the world,” stressed Hakainde.
President Banda’s death is a deep loss not only for the people of Zambia but also for the leadership and people of Tanzania, said former Tanzanian President Kikwete, speaking on behalf of current Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Somewhat laid back and the ability to make people laugh is no doubt mentioned among the many attributes that people far and wide, especially Zambians, will remember about Rupiah Banda as he was a natural for jokes.
An always smiling president, full of wisdom and a great sense of humor, he proudly called himself “President for all Zambians”, a slogan that expressed his desire for all citizens to feel comfortable with him, regardless of their tribe or political affiliation belonging.
