Chief Mpezeni hopes for continuity of Levy's projects

Chief Mpezeni hopes for continuity of Levy's projects
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Monday August 25, 2008 [04:00]

PARAMOUNT chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni in Eastern Province yesterday wondered whether President Levy Mwanawasa's successor will finish the major projects that he started in the province.

And Provincial permanent secretary Kelvin Kamuwanga appealed to people in the province to turn up in large numbers to pay their last respect to the late President Mwanawasa, whose body will be flown into Chipata today.

In an interview, Mpezeni said it was unfortunate that Zambia had lost a President who had a vision for the country.

"I’m mourning together with the entire nation, we have lost a leader who had started putting the country in order. There are a lot of projects that he had left behind such as the rehabilitation of the Great East Road and the construction of the Chipata/Mchinji railway line. Now we don't know whether the one who will take over from him will be interested to finish these projects," Mpezeni said.

He appealed to politicians in the country not to bring confusion when choosing President Mwanawasa's successor.

"For MMD, they should ensure they choose a person who can work like the late President Mwanawasa and they should choose their candidate as fast as possible because their colleagues in the opposition they already know their candidates.

So if they delay, then by the time they choose a candidate the opposition will be ahead," he said.

Chief Jumbe said Zambians should not rush into holding elections before adequate preparations.

He said the nation had lost a leader who had vision and would be difficult to replace.
"We are really touched with the passing on of our President who had done well to improve the country, although he didn't complete everything but he did his best, we will really miss him," chief Jumbe said.

Meanwhile, Christians in Chipata yesterday conducted interdenominational prayers for President Mwanawasa at St Anne's Cathedral Parish.

And Kamuwanga, during a press briefing on Saturday, said the body of late President Mwananwasa would arrive at Chipata Airport at 08:00 hours in the morning and would depart for Kasama at approximately 11:30 hours.