Begining of the end

Begining of the end
By Staff Reporters
Sunday August 24, 2008 [04:00]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa wanted to build a prosperous country without corruption, said Zambia Army chief of chaplains Colonel James Phiri yesterday. And several ministers yesterday wailed uncontrollably when President Mwanawasa's body arrived from Paris aboard a French presidential aircraft. Meanwhile, Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe urged the ruling MMD to hastily go to a mini-convention in order to choose President Mwanawasa's successor.

In his sermon at Mulungushi International Conference Centre during the wreath-laying ceremony for the late President Mwanawasa, Col Phiri said the late President wanted to build a prosperous country where the rule of law would prevail without corruption and where reconciliation, dialogue, self sacrifice and hard work would be the order of the day.

Col Phiri likened President Mwanawasa to King David of the Bible, saying none other than the great king would be fitting example of the late President.

"Just like David, our late President had intentions. David wanted to build God a temple whilst our President wanted to build a prosperous country where the rule of law would prevail, without corruption and where reconciliation, dialogue, self sacrifice and hard work would be the order of the day," Col Phiri told the mourners. "Just as God did not allow David to complete his plans, He said no to our President. God has not allowed him to finish his programme. Just as King David had a pattern for God's temple, President Mwanawasa's intentions were based on a pattern. When he started off as President, we must admit that we doubted where he was taking us. But he knew which way to go and today he has left a legacy because he had a pattern to follow. I believe he must have shown his pattern to someone. Someone standing here knows the pattern and must be available to pass it on behalf of the President."

Col Phiri said it was evident from the passage read, 1st Chronicles 28:2-10, that some of the deciding factors that made King David what he was, had made Zambia what God wanted it to be.

And earlier as French President Nicholas Sarkozy presidential plane carrying President Mwanawasa's casket was landing, some ministers burst into tears. Zambia's Ambassador to China Lupando Mwape - who once served as vice-president to President Mwanawasa - broke down as he hugged former vice-president pastor Nevers Mumba, his predecessor, and Zambia's Ambassador to the Great Lakes Region, Dr Siteke Mwale.
The French presidential airbus carrying the body of President Mwanawasa landed at Lusaka International airport at 08:54 hours accompanied by two Zambia Air Force (ZAF) fighter jets.

At 09:01 hours, Vice-President Rupiah Banda, former president Dr Kenneth Kaunda and few other dignitaries went near the plane to receive President Mwanawasa's body, first lady Maureen and other family members who were on the plane. At about 09:06 hours, Maureen, family members and a man carrying a Zambian flag disembarked from the plane and were welcomed by Vice-President Banda, who is also acting President, and other senior government officials.

At 09:09 hours, soldiers rolled the red carpet to the base of the plane and President Mwanawasa's sparkling gold casket draped in a national flag was removed from the plane, on the right side, at 09:15 hours.
At 09:17 hours, some senior defence force personnel lifted the casket and carried it to the saluting dais.

The military personnel placed the casket on the saluting dais at 09:23 hours as others conducted a 21-gun presidential salute. Three ZAF fighter jets flew over the casket while the military brass band played the national anthem.

As the procession was going on, Zambia Army commander General Isaac Chisuzi, ZAF commander Lieutenant General Samuel Mapala, Inspector General of Police Ephraim Mateyo and Zambia National Service (ZNS) commandant Major General Raphael Chisheta stood at attention in front of the casket.

The presidential, national, Zambia Army and other defence forces' flags flew half-mast during the procession which were wholly conducted by the military personnel, in honour of President Mwanawasa who was also commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
At 09:28 hours, acting President Banda, Maureen - who was clad in a black dress and head dress, family members and other dignitaries moved forward, close to the gun carriage which was mounted on a military vehicle.

Then the military personnel carried President Mwanawasa's casket, on a red carpet, from the saluting dais and placed it on the gun carriage at 09:32 hours.
Four chaplains from Zambia Army, ZAF, ZNS and Zambia Police walked in front of the casket as it was carried and eventually placed on the gun carriage.

The casket was fastened on the gun carriage while three military personnel were placed on guard at the back of the vehicle that carried the body. The vehicle had the presidential flag on the right and national flag on the left, both flying half mast, and an eagle - the symbol of presidency - in front.

Before the presidential motorcade, which was mostly armoured military vehicles with military personnel, left the airport at 09:42, the defence forces played the national anthem.

As the motorcade was leaving the airport, several people continued crying.
Earlier, the military personnel mounted strict security measures as some dignitaries such as National Assembly Deputy Speaker Mutale Nalumango were harassed by military police officers when she tried to cross the cordon line.

Nalumango protested and yelled at the military police but the men in uniform still blocked her. She had to introduce herself amid cursings before being allowed to proceed. Some people protested on her behalf saying she was deputy speaker of the National Assembly who could not be harassed publicly. A photojournalist was almost manhandled by the uncompromising military police after he strayed with his camera in the parade square of gun carrying soldiers.

Many high profiled persons attended the ceremony at the airport, among them Dr Kaunda. Others were Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, pastor Mumba, former vice-president Christon Tembo, former vice-president Enoch Kavindele, Forum for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi, Heritage Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, Patriotic Front president Michael Sata, United Party for National Development Hakainde Hichilema, All Peoples' Congress president Ken Ngondo, UNIP leaders, MMD leaders, High Commissioners and Ambassadors accredited to Zambia, heads of the United Nations systems in Zambia, defence attachés, several members of parliament, family members, several chief executive officers, and many others.

Former president Frederick Chiluba was not present at the airport.
And French Ambassador to Zambia Francoise Le Bihan said French President Nicholas Sakorzy offered his presidential aircraft to transport President Mwanawasa's body because of the late president's outstanding character.

"You have seen it is a presidential plane...it's the French presidential aircraft which brought back the body of President Mwanawasa. This is President Sakorzy plane. It's quite normal for France. We have plane assistance, we assisted the family and the President in hospital and all that and I think it is quite normal for such a President like President Mwanawasa," Ambassador Bihan said.

She said the French government paid all the medical bills for President Mwanawasa.
"The legacy of President Mwanawasa is good because of democracy, his fight against corruption and I hope that his spirit will go ahead with his successor," said Ambassador Bihan.

President Mwanawasa suffered a stroke in Egypt on June 29, ahead of the African Union heads of state summit and was admitted to Sharm-el-Sheik International Hospital. President Mwanawasa was subsequently evacuated to Percy Military Hospital on July 1, for specialist treatment where he died on Tuesday August 19.

Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Sherif Kamal Shaheen said Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak was saddened by President Mwanawasa's death.
"President Mubarak was very sad, he sent his condolences to the Acting President. President Mwanawasa was very close to Egypt. This is why on behalf of Egyptian government and the Egyptian people, we are expressing our sadness over his passing away. He was a great friend to our country," Ambassador Shaheen said. "I give the condolences to Zambia and the family of the President and the Zambian government."
He said President Mwanawasa was a great leader in Africa.

"We respected him very much and he was a great leader in Africa and he will be a symbol for all the leaders in the new generation of Africa. He sacrificed his life and dedicated it for his nation and the welfare of the Zambian people. This is why we respected him very much," said Ambassador Shaheen.

Sudanese Ambassador to Zambia Hassan Abdelaziz Farag said Sudan hoped that other African countries would emulate what President Mwanawasa had done throughout his life like fighting corruption and promoting good governance.

"The passing on of the President is a great loss not only to Zambia but the entire Africa. He has left behind a wonderful legacy and we hope Zambians will build on this," said Ambassador Farag.

Willa Mung'omba, who chaired the recent Constitution Review Commission (CRC), said the constitution-making process which had culminated into the National Constitution Conference should continue.

"It's a process he started and I hope people will respect his intentions, his desire to give Zambia a good constitution which is people driven," said Mung'omba.
Former Zambia's High Commissioner to Mozambique George Chulumanda said President Mwanawasa's death was a very devastating tragedy.

"The President and I had a special relation; for me, I have not only lost a great leader but a guardian because he guided me from the time he came into office and he never minced his words about how he wanted to develop the reservoir of a youth, vibrant and knowledgeable cadre of leaders," said Chulumanda.

"He always reminded me that 'George I want to develop so that when my time comes to hand over, I want to make sure that I am handing over to a cadre of youthful and knowledgeable experienced leaders'. He has developed me and many other young people in Cabinet and Parliament."

And Munkombwe described the President’s death as a tragedy that was difficult to put in words. Munkombwe said he was quite impressed with the late President Mwanawasa over the manner he implemented his mission of ridding the country of corruption.
"This man plunged himself in the cleansing of the nation. And so far, he has achieved a lot, but he has not been able to achieve everything," Munkombwe said, as the military vehicle that was carrying President Mwanawasa's body filed past. "The nation needs to pray hard to find a replacement."
Asked if the death of President Mwanawasa would have an effect on the stability of the MMD, Munkombwe said it would not as long as the party hastens to hold a mini-convention to deliberate on his successor.
"The party, in my own view, must go to a mini-convention, even if it means a one-day convention," said Munkombwe.

Science minister Peter Daka said only unity and prayer could help the ruling MMD find a capable and right person to replace President Mwanawasa.
"He was a good man and we want to carry on his legacy. We want to move his programme forward," said Daka.

Health minister Dr Brian Chituwo said the late President Mwanawasa was a clear thinker, who was greatly principled and stood for social justice.
"He set very high standards," said Dr Chituwo. "We will fight corruption because that robs the poor."