Zuma ready to sacrifice everything for Africans

Zuma ready to sacrifice everything for Africans
Written by Chibaula Silwamba and Christopher Miti in Chipata
Monday, March 02, 2009 7:43:26 AM

VISITING South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) party president Jacob Zuma has said he is ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of Africans.And Republican President Rupiah Banda has prayed that God gives Zuma strength to lead the people of South Africa in next month's presidential elections.

Accepting the honour bestowed on him by the Chipata Municipal Council as freeman of Chipata on Saturday shortly after his arrival in the Eastern provincial capital, Zuma said the honour was a great encouragement to him and the ANC.

"The people of Chipata thank you very much indeed for this honour. This is indeed a very pleasant surprise. I did not know as I travelled to this district in Zambia that an honour was awaiting for me. It's very symbolic," said Zuma, who was in Chipata to grace this year's Nc'wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni people that originated from his Zululand in South Africa, many years ago. He said this was the first time he was receiving such an award outside South Africa.

"We spent many years in Zambia fighting for freedom and indeed it is the first time outside South Africa that I receive such an honour. I am sure the African National Congress, the organisation that has made me to be what I am, that I joined voluntarily, one of its cadres is recognised in the manner you have recognised me today," Zuma said.

"I am one of those who remain a freedom fighter because I believe the poor people, the majority of whom are Africans in South Africa, in the region and indeed the continent look up to the leaders to help them. And I am one of those who are prepared to do everything, to sacrifice everything for the sake of the African people."

He said the status the Chipata Municipality had bestowed on him was an honour in remembrance of ANC freedom fighters that died in Zambia and their remains were still buried here.

"We are connected and we were connected even long before the colonialists came," he said. "Thank you very much for this honour, I will cherish it for the rest of my life."

And Chipata mayor Sinoya Mwale, who on behalf of the municipality bestowed the honour on Zuma, said the award was in recognition for the ANC leader's enormous contribution and self-sacrifice for the freedom of Africans and humanity.

"Allow me to welcome you to Chipata. Your Excellency my task this morning is very simple, to honour the president of African National Congress (ANC) Jacob Zuma today, here in Chipata. This event, for me as the mayor of this town, is historic," Mwale said. "The mayor of Chipata, that is me councillor Sinoya Mwale, for and on behalf of Chipata Municipal Council does hereby bestow upon Jacob Zuma, freeman of the municipality of Chipata."

Mwale said the council meeting held just before Zuma's arrival resolved to honour the South African freedom fighter.

And Chipangali member of parliament Vincent Mwale praised Zuma for accepting to come to Chipata at this critical time of his campaigns and accepting the honour.

Meanwhile, President Banda eulogised Zuma adding that he was happy that he was the President of Zambia at the time Zuma was being bestowed with the status of freeman of Chipata.

"President Zuma, you can see on our faces how happy we are to be able to bestow upon you this freedom of the place where your people when they first came to this country decided to settle in Chipata. They settled here," President Banda said. "I am proud to say that they never forgot where they came from. They know exactly who you are; they know what you have done."

He said the people of Chipata and particularly the Ngoni people had followed Zuma's history.

"All we can say is that the God that guided your people to this place guided you in the struggle guided you today to return to your second home and the same God will take you back and will give you the strength to lead the people of South Africa during the forthcoming elections," President Banda said. "May I once again tell you how happy I am, personally, to be the one to be the President in this country when you have come to receive your honour. Congratulations!"

Zuma is the ANC presidential candidate in the April 22 presidential election in South Africa. Zuma's main challenger will be ANC breakaway party, Congress of the People (COPE) candidate Bishop Mvume Dandala.

And earlier, welcoming Zuma to Zambia at Chipata airport, Eastern Province minister Isaac Banda said: "You are within your own home, we welcome you; feel free, mingle with us, we need to dine with you on the same table just like we did before we came here in the 1800s."

And President Banda said Zambians were deeply touched by Zuma's presence.

"I know how you feel about all this and you know how we feel about your presence here. I just wanted to say that I have a little present, I hope it's here, I think you have run out of leopards so we thought we should give you what you know how to handle best [shield], here is a leopard skin. A genuine leopard leather skin and there are all the documents in there for it to be repatriated into South Africa," President Banda said. "President Zuma has come together with the royal family of the Zulu; the sons and daughters of King Zweletini, they are all here. He has also come with some of his [Zuma's] children so that they can come and see where some of their people are in Africa and that is why we are really pleased about this."

And Zuma said coming to Zambia was indeed homecoming.

"Thank you very much sir for this warm welcome indeed. It is indeed a homecoming. Coming to Zambia is coming home, probably in two ways. One, we spent a lot of time here during the struggle. Zambia was our home, Zambia was criticised and attacked when it was a home for many of us in the countries that we were fighting in the south," Zuma said. "Secondly, coming to the eastern part of Zambia where the Ngoni peoples are it is again another home coming to see what I usually see at home, a traditional way that you are wearing."

Zuma was in Chipata for one day. He arrived at Mfuwe International Airport and was flown to Chipata aboard a Zambezi Airline plane, which the government hired for him and his delegation.

Shortly after the ceremony, Zuma and his delegation left for Mfuwe to board the aircraft back to South Africa.