Mugabe in election peace call as Nkomo buried
Grief ... John Nkomo in Sept. last year, his coffin (centre) and his mother Gogo MaDube
21/01/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe renewed his calls for peaceful elections this year in a graveside speech on Monday as Vice President John Landa Nkomo was laid to rest the National Heroes Acre.
"We derive some solace from the fact that Cde Nkomo died on the day that parties to the Global Political Agreement succeeded in narrowing their differences on matters that threatened our national interests," Mugabe said in reference to last Thursday’s breakthrough during negotiations for a new constitution.
"Peace, unity and harmony should prevail if we are to move forward. Peace begins with you, peace begins with me, peace begins with us, that is what Nkomo used to say," Mugabe told thousands of mourners.
"Let's carry the exhortation of peace forward by holding elections peacefully. We want peaceful elections. The overriding common denominator is that we are Zimbabweans.”
Nkomo died last Thursday at St Anne’s Hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.
Heavy rains that fell during the burial drenched mourners and twice disrupted Mugabe's address after triggering power outages.
“Power has gone, how can power go?” said Mugabe.
After the first power outage, the Zanu PF leader called for music to be played instead.
Mugabe said Nkomo, whom he described as a “survivor”, would be missed in both the government and his Zanu PF party.
“There are many why’s we cannot answer. Why? Why? Why?, yesterday it was the bomb in Lusaka, January 1977, that killed his friend Jason Moyo, but he survived. This is why I call him a survivor,” he said.
Mugabe’s MDC rivals Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube attended the burial, along with foreign dignitaries who included South Africa’s Vice President Kgalema Motlanthe and Tanzanian Vice President Abeid Karume.
Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo is the odds-on favourite to step in as the next Vice President.
Labels: FUNERALS, JOHN LANDA NKOMO
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Mudenge burial held, Mugabe calls for peace
Heroe's burial ... Mudenge's casket arrives at the Heroes Acre on Monday
08/10/2012 00:00:00
by Paradzai Brian Paradza
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe says he wants Zimbabweans to be tolerant of each other's views to allow for a free vote in general elections proposed for next March.
Mugabe, officiating Monday at the state burial of Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge, said political differences must be private and "not expressed in actions" that lead to violence.
He called on Zimbabweans to follow the "virtues and discipline" of academic and veteran diplomat Stan Mudenge, who died October 4 of heart failure at age 71.
Mugabe, speaking in a mixture of English and Shona, told thousands of mourners gathered at the National Heroes’ Acre: "Let the people vote for whoever they want to vote. Nyangwe akada kurasa vote yake muroad, ndezvake (If someone elects to dump their vote in the road, let them).
“We must recognise that everyone is entitled to make their own political choices. We might disagree, but you don’t need to express it in action, if you do that you will be starting violence.
“VeMDC vanofanira kuziva kuti ndiri Zanu PF izere, ivowo vanoda kuti ini ndizivewo kuti maMDC azerewo. It has to be two way [MDC supporters must know that I’m Zanu PF through and through, and they also want me to know that their beliefs are unshakeable. It has to be two way].”
President Mugabe described the late Mudenge as an astute diplomat and educationist who worked tirelessly in building the country's foreign relations and the education sector.
"This is a sad loss to us all. He remained a humble servant, friend, colleague, father and husband despite his education. He died on duty. He died in a typical style,” Mugabe said.
“He championed the idea of having state universities in every province as well as students’ welfare through both the grant and cadetship schemes. On the foreign affairs side, he ensured the country was a member of the UN,” Mugabe said at the burial attended by senior MDC-T officials including Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khuphe and party spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora.
Mugabe said while Mudenge’s health problems were no longer a secret, his death came as a shock as he appeared to be on the road to recovery.
Mudenge was hospitalised for several weeks in March after being attacked by a bull on his farm in Masvingo. Since the incident, Mudenge never fully recovered and he subsequently missed dozens of cabinet meetings, Mugabe said.
Sombre mood ... DPM Mutambara, VP Mujuru and President Mugabe at Heroes Acre
Reactions to Mudenge’s death and Mugabe’s graveside eulogy were mixed.
Pride Mukono, president of the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union, said Mudenge had presided over the collapse of institutions of higher learning resulting in a lowering of standards and thousands of student either failing to attend classes or having their degrees withheld over the non-payment of fees.
“While it is unAfrican to celebrate the death of an individual, we as students feel the Minister failed to run the ministry and was in most cases operating from a hospital bed. All the institutions of higher learning are suffering as a result of neglect and poor policies by the Minister during his tenure of office,” he said.
But Mugabe insisted that “although Mudenge was weak, he still performed his programmes”.
MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora, like his leader Morgan Tsvangirai, questioned the sincerity of Mugabe’s peace calls.
"As usual, he denounces violence but that has always fallen on deaf eyes. The president must go further, there must be a clear message that those who commit acts of violence will be arrested,” Mwonzora said, speaking moments after Mugabe finished his speech.
“That message is lacking and until the leadership drives home that point, his calls will be mere rhetoric. We want the police to arrest perpetrators of violence regardless of political affiliation.”
Over the weekend, Tsvangirai accused Mugabe of "preaching peace by day" while his loyalists attacked opponents at night.
Three-times married Mudenge is survived by his wife, Mildred, three children and two grandchildren. His first wife, Kgogo, died in 2001 and his second wife, Eunice, followed in 2004.
Labels: FUNERALS, STAN MUDENGE
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Mugabe, Tsvangirai attend Mutharika burial
23/04/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have attended the burial of former Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika at a family mausoleum dubbed the 'Taj Mahal’.
Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, Hipikefunye Pohamba of Namibia and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania were among the heads of state at Monday’s Catholic service in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial capital. President Mutharika, who died on April 5 aged 78, was buried later at his nearby Ndata Farm in a white mausoleum he had built for his first wife, Ethel, who died in 2007.
Mutharika called the mausoleum “Maphumulo wa Bata,” which means “Peaceful Rest” in the country's main language, Chichewa. But other Malawians, critical of the money he spent on his farm retreat soon after first being elected in 2004, dubbed the mausoleum the Taj Mahal after the white Marble mausoleum located in Agra, India built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
New Malawian President Joyce Banda, a fierce rival of Mutharika, had declared Monday a public holiday in Malawi.
Thousands of Malawians flocked by foot, on bicycles and in vehicles to attend the burial.
Fackson Moya, 48, walked 10km to witness the last journey of the man praised for early polices that ended a devastating famine but died in office blamed for pushing one of the world's poorest nations deeper into crisis.
[Translation: he supported Zimbabwe and of course, he was reviled for going against World Bank policy and showing their policy prescriptions to be garbage. For which 40% of Malawi's budget was withheld. Another reason why African countries must find a way to rely on taxation of the raw materials industries, not 'Donor Aid'. - MrK]
"It is worth it for me to walk this distance to come and say bye to our hero who ended hunger in Malawi," Moya told AFP.
Mutharika was laid to rest in the white marble edifice he had built during his eight years in charge of one of the world's most impoverished nations.
Enelesi Kabichi, 56, was curious about the "big house" which was splashed on the front page of the local newspaper, the Daily Times, on Monday.
"I wanted to come and see this white building where the president will be laid to rest. This is something new in our culture that a house can be built for a dead person," she said.
The funeral will cost 242 million Malawian kwacha (about US$1.5 million), Malawi's Sunday Times reported, including 20 million kwacha for decorations and 21 million on funeral cloth handed to Malawians for free.
Mutharika had said he wanted his mausoleum to be a "national monument to be visited by Malawians as part of a national heritage".
"He created space for himself at the mausoleum," local government minister Henry Mussa said.
Mussa said the mausoleum, "built like a house, has two tombs... one for the wife and one for Mutharika. The mausoleum will be a museum at the end of the day".
The late president also built a marble-and-granite mausoleum costing US$600,000 for Malawi's founding president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who died in 1997.
Mutharika came to power in 2004 as the country's third president.
He was the first to die in office and Joyce Banda, his former foe and vice president, was sworn in as the country's new leader hours after his death was officially confirmed two days later.
Banda, who led the mourners, evoked her predecessor's favourite mantra: "Malawi is not a poor country but Malawians are poor."
"President Bingu wa Mutharika taught me and all Malawians to dream, he taught us not only to dream but also to dream in colour," she said.
Following his wife’s death in 2007, Mutharika married Callista Chapola-Chimombo, a former tourism minister in 2010.
Alongside Mutharika's brother Peter, Chapola-Chimombo led the visiting African leaders as they paid their respects at the open casket of the former president, who was a church-going Catholic.
Peter Mutharika, the country's foreign minister, was anointed as heir-apparent for his Democratic Progressive Party in the 2014 elections when his brother was due to retire.
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, FUNERALS, JOYCE BANDA, MALAWI, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, ROBERT MUGABE
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Political violence
By The Post
Sat 21 Apr. 2012, 13:30 CAT
IT seems the culture of political intolerance has taken root in our country.
This is a culture that was planted by the MMD for two decades. And 20 years is not a short period of time. This culture has become firmly deep-rooted. This culture has permeated all levels of our key political parties.
The seed of intolerance was planted by the MMD and found fertile soil in the other political parties that were victims of their intolerance. We are now at a stage where all our key political parties have acquired this culture and their cadres know no other type of politics except that of violence.
When the MMD was in power, those who were in the opposition took a defensive position to protect themselves from its violence. After some time, they also resorted to being offensive. Today the MMD is on the receiving end of the culture of violence and intolerance that they planted.
But this should not be allowed to continue. The change of government meant the change of everything that is undesirable. This culture of intolerance and violence is undesirable. It is the duty of Michael Sata to ensure that things change and change for the better.
It is good that yesterday he came out strongly against this violence and condemned it. There is need for a general political mobilisation against this violence. All political parties have to take a firm position on this issue. And this also includes the police. No form of political violence should be tolerated from any quarter.
PF cadres who now seem to be on the offensive should not be tolerated by the police the way the MMD cadres were tolerated by them. They have to be dealt with firmly. They should not be treated like they are part of the government. The nonsense of "boma this, boma that" we used to hear should cease. Hooliganism cannot be part of boma.
We ask the PF as a political party to seriously begin to address this issue because it will tarnish their image. This is not what PF stood for and this is not what PF should be seen to be standing for.
And moreover, what were those thugs doing at that funeral? Who invited them to go there? A funeral is not for thugs; it is for decent people who know how to mourn others and who know how to respect the dead. The confusion that characterised the funeral shows that our politicians have not yet grasped the full meaning of democracy.
It is not in our Zambian culture to turn a solemn funeral into a boxing arena.
For this reason, any responsible politician, especially those leading or wanting to lead them, should educate their cadres to desist from any form of hooliganism at a funeral. In fact, a funeral should be an event where healing of old wounds ought to take place.
It should be a place where sworn enemies can reconcile. A funeral should be a time for all of us to reflect on whether we are in good standing, because in Ecclesiastes 7:1, we learn that "a good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth".
Funerals deserve respect; they are very important occasions, more important than the days we were all born.
It is therefore amazing how some politicians can organise cadres into an army of hooligans to disrupt a state funeral service being attended by the head of state.
There is a lot that can be said about this, but it has already been said. All that remains to be said is that political leadership is required to deal with this issue.
And the existence of such high levels of political intolerance is a sign of leadership failure on the part of our political parties. It just goes to show how poorly they are organised and how poorly they are led. For some time now, we have been advocating the introduction of political education in our political parties.
Today, there is no political party that has discernible political education for its cadres. And this is what happens when you turn thugs, criminals and lumpens of all hues into political cadres without any serious effort to mould or orient them, to teach them the values that are necessary in a multi-party political dispensation.
We therefore urge all our political parties to quickly embark on education of their cadres so that they can become better citizens and better leaders. There is need for political parties to become proper institutions of democracy, where there is tolerance for members and non-members.
Labels: CADRES, FUNERALS, GEORGE KUNDA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Cadres clash at Kunda's funeral
By Kombe Chimpinde, Salim Dawood, Roy Habaalu, Bright Mukwasa a
Sat 21 Apr. 2012, 13:30 CAT
CADRES yesterday clashed at the funeral service for former vice-president George Kunda at the Cathe-dral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka. And President Michael Sata has accused MMD presidential aspirant Pastor Nevers Mumba of ferrying thugs to Kunda's funeral to fan the confusion. But Pastor Mumba said he would not respond to President Sata's accusation.
While the mood was solemn inside the Church, tension and rivalry hang outside the cathedral, where PF and a combined group of opposition MMD and UPND cadres squared off, exchanging invectives.
The PF cadres had seemingly been incensed by some MMD and UPND cadres believed to be Pastor Nevers Mumba's supporters and wearing T-shirts with inscriptions "Don't kutina", an apparent mockery of the PF's "Don't Kubeba" slogan.
The PF cadres continuously taunted the MMD and UPND cadres about their loss of last September's general elections, creating extra work for security, which included army and police officers outside.
Their chanting and singing even subdued the the proceedings inside the cathedral.
The situation nearly turned nasty when the PF cadres surged to the entrance of the cathedral, where the MMD and UPND cadres had taken up vantage point in order to dislodge them.
The cadres hurled insults and disparaging remarks at each other, with the PF side boasting that they were now in power.
Security personnel, who were visibly overwhelmed by the multitude of the ruling PF cadres, eventually managed to bring the situation under control after re-enforcement.
Irate MMD cadres complained to the media and the police of harassment, while PF cadres entertained themselves to spirited music and dance.
The cathedral grounds had been filled with PF, MMD and UPND cadres as early as 09:00 hours, with PF cadres outnumbering the MMD and UPND.
Their singing and chanting, punctuated by the feuding overwhelmed the sizeable number of police officers deployed outside the cathedral and even those inside.
At some point, President Sata abruptly ordered Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani to sort out party cadres that were causing the commotion.
This was when President Sata got incensed by the behaviour of PF and MMD cadres shortly after he gave a brief speech.
When President Sata was about to take his seat after his speech, in which he thanked Zambians and defence chiefs for the service rendered to the Kunda family, and Cardinal Merdado Mazombwe rose to the last ritual before the Mass could conclude, President Sata made his way back to the podium and ordered Inspector General Libongani to sort out those that were causing confusion.
"These self-ordained pastors, have printed T-shirts ‘Don't kutina'and have put thugs outside, who are provoking trouble. Can Zambia Police… Madam Libongani get outside and sort them out. We have come here to mourn and not entertain the thugs," President Sata demanded.
At that point, Inspector General Libongani and a few other officers left the service to go and take charge of the situation.
When contacted after the service for his comment, Pastor Mumba said he found President Sata's attacks against him and the pastors during the service as
inappropriate.
"I was in the service myself. I was there myself. There are many things that he said and that he would sort me out. I can't answer the President. We went there to mourn my brother and I would rather keep the honour of Kunda. That was an inappropriate thing to say at that time," said Pastor Mumba.
Earlier in his speech, President Sata said he was amazed that some circles of society were wondering why Kunda was the first former vice-president to be accorded three days of national mourning.
"Madam (Irene) Kunda, on your behalf, I would like to thank the Zambian people who have come to escort you to this unbearable celebration… It's not easy. Some of us have gone through this," said President Sata, who also took time to recognise the presence of several individuals in the audience.
"Don't listen to self-ordained reverends because in this country, we have self-ordained pastors; all they think of is ‘Oh, George Kunda was neglected, he was not evacuated' but last week we evacuated Mrs Nakatindi. Where is she? The same self-ordained pastors, are not saying ‘thank you to government for Mr Robiana who is now walking."
President Sata said that death was God's will that could not be defeated by science.
"They condemned me, (saying) why have I treated Kunda as if he is President, saying ‘this man (Kunda)has been given three days of national mourning and when Gen (Christon) Tembo died, they did not treat him the way they are treating him (Kunda)'," President Sata said.
" I do not want to mention them. I was not President when General Tembo died. Rupiah was President when General Tembo died. I do not know if Rupiah read the regulations of state funeral."
He said Kunda deserved to be respected because he was once vice-president of the country.
President Sata said he was aware of a lot things being said about him but that he had learnt the art of listening rather than just responding to anything being thrown at him.
"Dr (Kenneth) Kaunda has taught me something. When you speak, I treat you as if I am not listening to what you are saying because my tongue can be very sharp," he said amid ululations.
President Sata also thanked the security and defence forces for the services rendered during the mourning period.
And Giving a eulogy, Lusaka lawyer Sunday Nkonde hailed Kunda as a hard worker and defender of his beliefs.
"His work as minister of justice, he constantly resisted revealing what he had advised government as its client even if it meant him shouldering public anger and criticism. He at all times jealously upheld lawyer-client confidentiality even when others would tell him it was to his own detriment. The late honourable Kunda was very steadfast in his advice to government," Nkonde said.
He said Kunda was a man of virtue and who was not tied to political affiliation and status in life.
MMD acting president Michael Mabenga said Kunda's demise was a heartbreaking episode in the MMD's history.
He, however, said the party had to accept God's will.
Meanwhile, in his homily, Cardinal Mazombwe acknowledged various contributions made by Kunda to the country's development.
Cardinal Mazombwe said that every death was painful but that love was bigger than death.
"Love is stronger than death. We are able to endure and accept any pain in life when we love God," he said.
Vice-President Guy Scott, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini and opposition party leaders joined mourners from all works of life at the cathedral, which was filled to capacity.
Leader of the opposition in the House Felix Mutati sat next to President Sata and first lady Dr Christine Kaseba during the service, and were occasionally seen chatting.
Tributes wre also said by the late Kunda's sons during the service.
And Vice-President Scott said Kunda believed in the diversity of humankind.
During the burial at Leopards Hill Memorial Park yesterday, Vice-President Scott said Kunda spoke openly about the responsibility and duty of all citizens to contribute to the well-being of their community.
He said Kunda believed that there was no magic formula to achieving development and national success.
He said Kunda set high personal standards of discipline and hard work.
"Which included essential elements of integrity and self-sacrifice for the common good of society. It required a brave person like him to stand and eloquently defend the things he believed in and cared for," said Vice-President Scott.
He said Kunda held the view that both lawyers and ordinary citizens had a cardinal duty to contribute and commit themselves to law reforms that would guarantee personal freedoms, peace, national unity and human dignity.
"Even at a time his health appeared to be failing, Kunda never slowed down his work rate and continued his quest for accountable governance and for the need to guard against the abuse of power. He sounded constantly the warnings against the dangers of manipulating by ambitious, dishonest and selfish men and women. He always stressed that for any society to succeed, the citizens had to play a pivotal role and that for this to become a reality and of benefit to them, much would depend on their contribution to it," he said.
Vice-President Scott said Kunda was a very private person in more ways than one.
He said his views on a number of issues did not earn him acclaim among his adversaries but he remained fearless, resolute and forthright in stating them.
He said he was a highly principled man, who made a huge contribution to Zambia's constitutional and law development process.
And Chief Justice Sakala said Kunda had left a mark on the justice system in Zambia, which even his harshest critics would find difficult to erase.
During a valedictory session at the Supreme Court in honour of Kunda, justice Sakala said Kunda had left a legacy that whatever office one holds as a lawyer, the tenets of the legal profession, ideals of justice and the rule of law should never be sacrificed.
He said Kunda, who also once served as Law Association of Zambia president, was a strong supporter of the Judiciary's autonomy and independence and that he did all he could to provide support to the Judiciary.
Justice Sakala said Kunda stood out as a landmark and a beacon for the old as well as the new generation of lawyers.
He said Kunda served the country selflessly and was a strong defender of the separation of powers, good governance and the rule of law.
"Truly Kunda in his coolness of mind, was a paradigm of a good lawyer, a good politician and a perfect specimen of humility," he said.
Justice Sakala further described the late Kunda as a brilliant lawyer who contributed not only to the legal profession but the country as a whole.
He said Kunda would be remembered as a prolific and great legal mind who contributed a lot to Zambia's jurisprudence.
He said in his capacity as a private lawyer and as Attorney General, Kunda made his submissions with clarity, respect, dignity and with a smile.
"We shall also remember him for the various laws he initiated to improve the administration of justice in the country as legal affairs minister," Justice Sakala said.
He said Kunda would be fondly remembered for supporting and ensuring that over 100 new local courts were built in all the nine provinces of Zambia in the last three years.
He further said Kunda introduced and supported legislation which increased the establishment of the Supreme Court and High Court benches.
And Solicitor General Musa Mwenye said Kunda would be remembered as a courageous member of the Zambian bar.
Mwenye said he found Kunda to be a fearless opponent as he had the extremely important attribute of courage.
He said the passing of Kunda had saddened the legal profession as he was the second lawyer in the last 21 years to serve as vice-president of Zambia.
LAZ president James Banda said Kunda was a dedicated member of the association.
Banda said Kunda's death had also created a void in his family and prayed that God would comfort them.
Meanwhile former Attorney General Abyudi Shonga said Kunda spoke his mind and called a spade a spade.
Shonga also described Kunda as an exemplary lawyer.
Labels: CADRES, FUNERALS, GEORGE KUNDA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Chiluba burial attendance by invitation - Kanganja
By Chibaula Silwamba
Mon 27 June 2011, 04:01 CAT
SECRETARY to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja says access to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross for Frederick Chiluba’s funeral service and burial at Embassy Park today will be strictly by card.
Dr Kanganja yesterday stated that people without cards should stay at home and follow the proceedings at the Cathedral and Embassy Park on television as both events would be broadcast live. He stated that giant screens would be positioned at Lusaka Showgrounds for public viewing of the proceedings.
“It is necessary that order, solemnity and decorum prevail during the last day of national mourning. Embassy Park will be open to the general public immediately after the end of the burial programme,” stated Kanganja.
Meanwhile, foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande confirmed that Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila, DRC’s Katanga Province governor Moses Katumbi, Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, former president of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa and other foreign dignitaries would attend Chiluba’s burial.
Ministers will lead delegations from Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Rwanda.
Labels: FREDERICK CHILUBA, FUNERALS, JOSHUA KANGANJA
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Michael Sata bids farewell to Frederick Chiluba
By George Chellah
Mon 27 June 2011, 04:00 CAT
MICHAEL Sata yesterday joined mourners in viewing the body of second Republican president Frederick Chiluba at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre. Sata, who was in the company of PF chairperson for finance and former Ndola town clerk Emmanuel Chenda, arrived at Mulungushi International Conference Centre around 09:00 hours.
Upon arrival, Sata, who wasn’t with his bodyguards, proceeded to join a queue of visibly shocked mourners, who included some women clad in the ruling MMD regalia. Sata briefly chatted and greeted the mourners that were waiting for their turn to view the body of the late second Republican president.
Some mourners including soldiers supervising the procession remained in doubt and where heard whispering to each other: “Ni ba Sata aba bushe is this Mr Sata?” curiously asked one of the women clad in an MMD chitenge material.
“Ee e! Niba mene Yes, he is the one,” her four colleagues responded in unison. “Nadabwa I am shocked!” she replied.
And some soldiers and other security personnel where also heard arguing amongst themselves in an effort to establish whether it was truly the PF leader as he joined the queue with other members of the public to pay his last respects.
After it became apparent that it was Sata, the security personnel, respectfully ushered the PF leader in signing the book of condolences and later on the procession to pay his last respects.
Immediately after some mourners walked over to greet Sata who was now heading to Chenda’s vehicle.
In a short interview immediately after paying his last respects to the late Chiluba, Sata described the former president’s death as very sad.
“Well it’s very sad... any loss of life is sad, it’s very terrible to lose a life. Those my critics that are talking don’t know what they are talking about because I knew Frederick way before politics,” Sata said.
“I knew him during the trade unions days. Of course, we had political differences but politics are just secondary what is important in life are ties or relationships we share with colleagues, just like I did with Frederick.”
Sata, who got a lift from Chenda left Mulungushi International Conference Centre at exactly 09:15 hours.
Labels: FREDERICK CHILUBA, FUNERALS, MICHAEL SATA
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Chiluba’s family agree to stop postmortem
By Staff Reporters
Fri 24 June 2011, 08:30 CAT
FREDERICK Chiluba’s children have been cowed into submission following threats by elderly family members that they would be cursed and run mad should they insist for a postmortem to be conducted on their late father's body.
And the government says its position on the issue of conducting a postmortem on Chiluba is in line with the family members’ resolve for the operation not to be carried out. Meanwhile Mike Mulongoti says it is Rupiah Banda’s government and the MMD who have politicised late Frederick Chiluba’s funeral.
But other Chiluba family members have questioned President Banda’s government if it had to wait for family consent to conduct a postmortem on a person of Chiluba’s stature.
Chiluba family sources said the programme to move the late former head of state’s body from St. Anne’s Funeral Parlour to Mulungushi International Conference Centre, where it is supposed to lie in state for a number of days, had been delayed by the divisions in the family over the postmortem issue.
“The family is still divided over the same issue,” the source said.
“On Tuesday a heated family meeting was held over the same and the children insisted that they needed to have a postmortem so that all suspicions could be laid to rest.
There was a vocal man, the late President’s cousin Mr Royce Argan Bright who spoke with the elders on behalf of the children although the children were also present during the discussion. They said even former US president Abraham Lincoln was a great president but he was assassinated.”
The source said it was the children’s argument that even in their father’s case, although they were not implying that he had been assassinated, it was possible that he equally had enemies.
“So they asked for a postmortem, and the meeting really got heated up, and attracted several curious people at the funeral to move closer and listen in,” the source said. “The children said the fact that he died at home, it’s homicide and it only followed that a postmortem should be conducted.”
The source said Ben Mwila, who is the family spokesperson and is opposed to the idea of a postmortem being conducted on Chiluba, firmly stood his ground.
“BY was really firm and stood his ground and even threatened the children that they would be cursed if they went ahead to ignore Lunda culture and tradition,” the source said. “BY said in some families, children have gone mad because of defying positions held by elders and this unsettled the children.”
The source said the ambience during the family meeting was heated.
“ It was very clear that the children got scared because of such strong statements,” said the source.
The source said Mwila, an MP in Luapula’s Nchelenge
Constituency, resolved that they were going to hold a press briefing so that they state the position on the postmortem.
“But two of Chiluba's children are the only ones that have been swayed over. That is Miko and Kaindu,” the source said.
The source said the government called for another meeting on Wednesday at Cabinet Office aimed at discussing the general programme of the funeral.
“During that same meeting which was attended by eight family members from the Chiluba family led by BY, he, on behalf of the family, informed the government representatives that they would not conduct the postmortem,” the source said.
“So government said since there was a consent that was already signed by the children, there was going to be need for the family members to sign that they were withdrawing that consent for a postmortem.”
The source said that request was received with mixed feelings as there were some family members that did not know that they had been called to Cabinet Office to discuss the postmortem issue.
“Two family members walked out of the meeting at Cabinet Office in protest, but the other six appended their signatures. Miko was also part of the ones that appended their signatures,” the source said.
“They are asking the government that for a man of Chiluba’s stature, does it need to take the consent of the family for the government to establish what could have led to his passing?” the source said. “They said those are serious issues that need to be answered.”
Meanwhile, the minister tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the Chiluba state funeral, Dr Kalombo Mwansa, is in Kawambwa for matters concerned with the funeral.
When asked during a phone interview yesterday how the programme of moving Chiluba's body from the funeral parlour to Mulungushi Conference Centre for public viewing would proceed, Dr Mwansa referred all querries to Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Joshua Kanganja.
“I am in Kawambwa but you call Secretary to the Cabinet he will give all the information,” said Dr Mwansa. “I am far away from Lusaka right now.”
Dr Kanganja said in an interview yesterday that he would not comment on the assertions made by a senior medical practitioner who said the Coroner must insist that the postmortem be conducted considering that Chiluba was a former head of state.
This was after Dr Kanganja was asked what the official government position on the family’s postmortem split was in view of the fact that Chiluba died at home and was a BID (Brought In Dead) case.
“I will not comment because I don't know what information he senior medical practitioner has,” Dr Kanganja said. “The family agreed that there will be no postmortem. That is what the family decided.”
Dr Kanganja said the public viewing of Chiluba’s body would take place on Saturday and Sunday from morning to evening.
President Banda was by yesterday afternoon expected at the Show Grounds to visit the other mourners that had gathered there, according to a programme released by the government.
A team of government workers were by 12:40 hours yesterday spotted ferrying seats to the grandstand in the Show Ground’s main arena in anticipation of the Presidential visit.
Chiluba died from unknown causes at his Kabulonga home in the early hours of Saturday morning and will be buried at Lusaka’s Embassy Park on Monday.
And commenting on the stories being carried in the state-owned and government-controlled media organisations blaming PF leader Michael Sata, the PF and individuals like himself, Sylvia Masebo and Dr Mbita Chitala for not attending Chiluba’s funeral, Mulongoti, who is former works and supply minister, said no one had attacked Chiluba after his death.
He said it was sad to see the state-owned and government-controlled Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia being used as fish nets to see who they could apportion blame on issues surrounding Chiluba’s death.
Mulongoti said he was amazed at the desperation from the MMD.
“The desperation is growing. It is increasing by the day because now it’s going into panic. That is why they can even take advantage of the funerals and think they are going to make themselves popular by being seen at the funeral all the time. We shall mourn in our own way,” he said.
Mulongoti challenged President Banda to match his words with actions, saying the people who were threatening to beat others were members of his own political party, but he had not publicly come out to condemn their actions.
“So the buck stops with him. So it’s not enough to say ‘let us mourn in dignity and peace’ and at the end of the day you allow people who you are supposed to control do wrong things,” he said.
Mulongoti said it was not the opposition who had threatened to beat up some people if they went to the funeral but MMD cadres.
He said Lusaka Province MMD chairperson William Banda’s statement that the cadres were engaged in violent activities out of their own discretion could not be believed because they could not just do so on their own without anyone influencing them.
Mulongoti said if what William said were the case then it means there was no control or political leadership in the MMD.
He said the MMD was just trying to gain political capital fromChiluba’s funeral, saying they had even gone to the extent of using scavengers like Edwin Lifwekelo and group to paint other people black.
Mulongoti said such scavengers always visited his office when he served as minister to beg because that was their lifestyle.
“When you don’t give them, you know how scavengers behave, they will go to another source. And they are taking advantage of the MMD’s desperation and MMD being desperate is busy using these scavengers. We have been told we can’t go there because we are not in good standing with people who are enjoying the services being provided by the state at the funeral,” Mulongoti said.
“They don’t want us to go anywhere near them. They have four square meals and drinks at the expense of the state. So they don’t want us to go anywhere near them.”
Labels: FREDERICK CHILUBA, FUNERALS, MIKE MULONGOTI
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Stay away from Chiluba’s funeral violence
By The Post
Tue 21 June 2011, 04:00 CAT
WHEN we asked for Frederick Chiluba to be mourned and buried in peace, it was not from without.
We knew very well that we do have in our politics, especially in the ruling MMD, people with criminal minds and who have violence stuck in their brains; people who see an opportunity for violence in everything, even in the most sorrowful and solemn events.
A funeral is not supposed to be a place for settling political and other scores. A funeral is supposed to bring all sorts of people together to mourn and bury a person they all knew.
We warned that Chiluba having been a politician, his death was political. And we urged his family and friends to keep the politics under control.
We also warned that the temptation to try and extract maximum political capital from Chiluba’s death may be very high, especially given that we are in an election campaign period.
Traditionally, when there is a funeral at any place in this country, the gates to the yard and the doors to the house are always kept open. The reason for this is to allow anyone who wants to come and mourn the deceased to do so. This is because every person is connected to so many others and no one, even the closest person, will know all the contacts of another.
And people touch others in too many different ways for one to know who should be allowed to visit or who should be kept away from the funeral house and the burial procession.
The MMD cadres who were harassing Reverend Edith Mutale and trying to chase her from the funeral house do not know all the relatives and friends of Chiluba. Sometimes members of the same family take different positions on things.
But that in itself cannot be the basis for excluding one from the funeral of another. Today, Chiluba’s funeral has been turned into a political rally for the MMD to sort out their political opponents. We say this because Chiluba is dead and cannot have political opponents.
He doesn’t even have political affiliation now. Chiluba’s own affiliation now is to his creator, the Giver of life – the Almighty God. If Chiluba was MMD last Friday, he no longer is today because there are no political parties where he has gone.
So all this nonsense of harassing mourners at Chiluba’s funeral is not being done for Chiluba. We say this because Chiluba has nothing to benefit from the harassment of anyone at his funeral.
It doesn’t even matter to Chiluba who mourns him or who doesn’t mourn him. Chiluba is not there to be a recipient of all these things. Clearly, all this hooligan behaviour, all this violence is being done to advance the political and criminal interests of some people who are still walking this earth and are seeking votes in this year’s elections.
Nobody owns Chiluba today – not even the MMD. Chiluba’s membership of everything ended with his death. Even the marriage to his most dear wife ended the time he stopped breathing, the time he was pronounced dead.
From that time Chiluba ceased to be a husband and his wife became a widow. If there is no marriage in death, how can there be political party membership in death?
We know that violence is part of the political culture of this MMD and they are not ashamed to exhibit it even at a funeral they themselves have declared a state funeral. What is the meaning of a state funeral? Is a state funeral an MMD funeral? Is an MMD funeral a state funeral?
Well, these people are criminals and, as such, very difficult to reason with. They are not looking for reasonable things. They are simply looking for crimes to commit.
And we are told in Proverbs 22:3: “Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.”
There is no need for anyone who thinks he will be attacked by MMD cadres to attend Chiluba’s funeral. Sit in your house or go to your church and pray for Chiluba. After all, praying is the best way of mourning.
There is no need to go to the funeral house when one knows very well that the criminal elements who are there are likely to attack him. There will equally be no need to attend Chiluba’s burial if one does not feel safe given the violent behaviour of MMD cadres who have taken over the conduct of this funeral.
But there will be consequences even for them and their political masters. The political capital that they want to extract from this funeral may not materialise.
The Chiluba we are mourning today is not a stranger to the Zambian people. They knew him very well; they know what he did and how he governed their country. Death may purify Chiluba’s soul and deliver him to his Creator, but it will not change what he did here on earth.
Chiluba will not be able in death to give them a higher political mileage than he was able to deliver them in his life.
And it doesn’t make sense to try and magnify things beyond what they are. What is in a funeral? Soon, Chiluba’s remains will be buried and it will be business as usual; people will go back to their tuntembas and continue with their business.
People tried to politicise Levy Mwanawasa’s funeral; some tried to chase others. Where did it take them? Where are they today politically? Even those who sang the most about Levy’s legacy are today quiet; even those who most benefited politically and otherwise from Levy today hardly mention his name.
There is no need to behave in a manner that will deprive Chiluba’s family of the opportunity to mourn him in peace. Whatever we may think of Chiluba, to his family he was everything, and they deserve the right to mourn him and bury him in peace.
Soon MMD will become nothing to Chiluba’s family the way it has become nothing, or almost nothing, to Levy’s family.
Rupiah Banda appealed to Zambians to mourn Chiluba with dignity and respect. But the behaviour of his political cadres is not in accordance with his appeal. We therefore appeal to Rupiah to make another appeal to his cadres to mourn Chiluba with dignity and respect.
We further appeal to all those who feel attending Chiluba’s funeral opens them to MMD cadres’ violence to stay away and mourn Chiluba in another way.
Labels: FREDERICK CHILUBA, FUNERALS, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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Cadres harass Rev Mutale at Chiluba's funeral
By Chibaula Silwamba and Edwin Mbulo
Tue 21 June 2011, 04:02 CAT
VIOLENCE has characterised the funeral of former president Frederick Chiluba where MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda-led cadres harassed and insulted the late head of state’s preacher Rev Edith Mutale and chased some journalists.
In an interview yesterday, Rev Mutale, a close ally of Chiluba and his family, narrated that MMD cadres manning the entrance to the house of mourning on Sunday harassed and barred her from mourning the former president and was only protected by the deceased’s step children.
“When Dr Chiluba died in the early hours of Saturday, I was one of the first people to be informed. The whole day Saturday I was at the funeral house from 04:30 hours to 22:00hours and there was no incident at all. I stayed with Mrs Regina Chiluba because people know that I have a relationship with that family,” Rev Mutale said.
“On Sunday, about 16:00 hours, I went to see how Regina was doing and how things were. When I dropped by the gate, the first person I saw standing by the gate was Mr William Banda. I ignored him and I proceeded to go to the entrance of the house so that I could get into the house.”
She said she found MMD women dancing and singing at the entrance.
“I tried to get into the house but the MMD women blocked me. They started to push and shouted at me: ‘You are PF! We will not allow you to enter the house’. I was amazed because that house had been open to me as and when I wanted because I have a relationship with Dr Chiluba and the family. Even in times when he needed help, I was there. In times when the Levy Mwanawasa government took him to court, I was in court most of the time supporting him. Even on the day of his last judgment I was there,” Rev Mutale said.
“When he went to hospital in South Africa, Regina phoned me that ‘mum please come, your son is very sick, he has collapsed.’ She called me like on a Thursday, on Friday morning I flew into South Africa and I stayed there for two weeks and prayed with him. He would tell his wife that ‘I want ba mayo mother Edith Mutale to prepare food for me not any other person’. I would prepare food.”
She said it was sad that MMD cadres could harass and insult her.
“MMD women told me that ‘get out through the gate. If you don’t, we shall undress you!’ They started to hurl insults at me. Anyway, I did not leave. I went through the kitchen. Then Bwalya and Mando – Mrs Regina Chiluba’s children – heard and came and said, ‘mama, what is going on?’ I said, ‘I have been barred to get into the house’. They were very upset because those children know that in me, they have a grandmother,” Rev Mutale said.
“Bwalya and Mando took me inside. I did complain a lot to Mrs Regina Chiluba because I felt humiliated. Mrs Regina Chiluba was very sad. She cried a lot because she knew that she found a mother in me.”
Rev Mutale said Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata, whom William Banda and MMD cadres barred from attending the funeral was very close to Chiluba.
“When I was at the funeral on Saturday, Mr Sata phoned me saying ‘I hear you are there. I can’t come for the funeral. Tell Mrs Chiluba’. I told Mrs Regina Chiluba that Mr Sata phoned and said ‘he can’t come because there are plans to harm him’. Mrs Chiluba said ‘that is not right’,” Rev Mutale narrated.
“Mr Sata phoned again. Then I gave Mrs Chiluba the phone and said, ‘speak to Mr Sata’ and she got the phone. She was still crying and I heard her say, ‘bashiChilufya Chilufya’s father, please come. Those who are stopping you don’t know how you and Dr Chiluba were close and loved each other. You could differ on political ground but not on a personal level’. She was speaking on the phone telling him ‘that please come, I need your help. I need the love of everybody who was friends of my husband’.”
Rev Mutale said Sata and Chiluba had been friends for many years and the former always supported the latter at the expense of losing an election.
“Mr Sata was always supporting Chiluba, always seeing him off and welcoming him from South Africa. Some of the people that are even saying they are friends with Dr Chiluba were not friends. My heart is bleeding. We need to allow Mr Sata to mourn a colleague. Mr Sata and Dr Chiluba traversed, did things together and governed this country for 10 years,” Rev Mutale said.
“William Banda comes from Malawi to come and confuse us. Did William Banda love Dr Chiluba more than Mr Sata? Sata loved Dr Chiluba whom he worked with more. William Banda was in the UNIP government which harassed Dr Chiluba.”
Rev Mutale urged President Banda to prevail over William Banda and his cadres.
“We should all mourn Dr Chiluba because he was president of Zambians and not just for MMD. Chiluba touched so many hearts. William Banda and his vigilantes must be caged so that we mourn Chiluba with dignity, he deserves it. Chiluba was president of Zambia for 10 years; he deserves to be mourned in a manner that is befitting a leader,” Rev Mutale.
“I call upon President Rupiah Banda to cage William Banda and all the vigilantes so that people can mourn Chiluba in an acceptable manner. William Banda cannot be a gateman at the Chiluba residence to refuse people to mourn Dr Chiluba. That is unacceptable.”
She said William Banda was a deportee.
“When was he a Zambian? The man was deported. He is still living in this country illegally and he has come to destroy the peace of Zambia,” Rev Mutale said.
She said the conduct of William Banda was bad.
“This is not the time to bring things like this. This can cause anarchy and confusion in the country. I plead with President Banda. In any case, President Banda was in Chipata mourning his uncle, they buried, why didn’t he come back to be part of the people that are mourning. How does a head of state be absent from another head of state’s funeral? He should have been the first person to receive people,” Rev Mutale said.
“This violence has just started; it’s saddening and disturbing. This is unacceptable. We have gone back to the one-party-state and vigilante era of William Banda whom they have again brought back to come and kill the Zambian people.”
Rev Mutale said the MMD cadres’ conduct at the funeral was unfair for the Chiluba family. “Dr Chiluba’s children are still alive and will still need the help of Mr Sata and he can play a father figure for them. This is not good for the family, Regina and children. Even relatives of Dr Chiluba are feeling bad. They want their son to be mourned in a dignified manner,” said Rev Mutale.
And a group of state security agents and MMD cadres yesterday chased and barred a Radio Phoenix journalist from entering the Belvedere lodge which has been turned into a house of mourning.
Narrating her ordeal, Nancy Chenge, who was assigned to cover the Anglican Church literacy workshop at nearby Mary’s Magdalena Parish, mistakenly drove to Belvedere Lodge.
“I had not realised that we had bypassed the church and when we turned into Belvedere Lodge some security officer in green attire and a woman wearing a G4 Security uniform tried to stop us but the driver did not see the signal to stop,” Chenge said.
She said the security officers followed them and asked why they were there and ordered them to leave.
Chenge said when she saw women clad in MMD chitenge materials singing solemn, she realised that she was at the mourning place for Chiluba and left.
She said even after leaving the lodge security personnel pursued the journalist up to the church and parked by the road side for a moment but later drove away. Chenge said the security personnel were moving in a green bus registration number GRZ 555BY.
Meanwhile, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi wondered why William Banda, who was deported by Chiluba to Malawi, was harassing and chasing people like herself that served in the Chiluba-cabinet from the funeral.
Nawakwi said it was strange that William Banda, who never worked with Chiluba, could be chasing former ministers in the late president’s 10-year reign.
“Ask President Rupiah Banda why William Banda is chasing people like Edith Nawakwi from Chiluba’s funeral? I worked with Chiluba as his minister for 10 years. How can William Banda who was deported to Malawi be chasing us?” Nawakwi asked.
“I met president Chiluba late last year and we discussed a lot of things, William Banda can even ask Regina Chiluba, and now he wants to chase us from the funeral. Let William Banda allow Zambians to mourn Chiluba in peace.”
On Saturday, Lusaka Province minister Charles Shawa and party provincial youth chairperson Chris Chalwe harassed opposition leader Cosmo Mumba. Earlier that day, MMD cadres were looking for The Post journalists so that they may beat them up, but after being alerted, the media personnel dodged the trap. The Post has avoided going to the funeral house since then. William Banda’s cadres have also vowed to beat up Sata.
Labels: CADRES, FUNERALS, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WILLIAM BANDA
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Tsvangirai heckled by Tekere mourners
Posted by By Our reporter at 9 June, at 01 : 25 AM Print
MOURNERS at the funeral of the late nationalist Edgar Tekere Wednesday jeered MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, forcing him to retreat in a huff. Tsvangirai – who was accompanied by among others his secretary Ian Makone, spokesman Luke Tambo-rinyoka and head of protocol James Maridadi – arrived at the late Tekere’s Bordervale home at around 4pm.
The mourners told the PM that he was not in charge of the country, but President Mugabe. Some of the mourners continued with their chores without acknowledging the MDC-T leader’s arrival while others could be seen offloading firewood from a lorry.
A handful of Tsvangirai’s supporters, who included Mutare councillors, welcomed him and escorted him into the house.
But more drama awaited him inside.
The mourners, mostly women, sang revolutionary songs reminding Tsvangirai that only President Mugabe was the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
The singing did not stop as Tsvangirai offered his condolences to Tekere’s widow, Pamela. The MDC-T leader sat for close to 10 minutes during which time the singing even became louder and drowned his voice.
MDC-T members appealed to the Tekere family spokesman, Steven Kada, to restrain the mourners, but they would have none of it, forcing the PM to beat a hasty retreat with his delegation.
His supporters also left.
Tamborinyoka said what was important was that his boss paid his condolences.
“These mourners are trying to hijack the body of a person who did not belong to their party.
“This is indecent and unAfrican. What is important is that the Prime Minister has managed to offer his condolences,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara, who arrived shortly after Tsvangirai, mingled with the mourners who included Zanu-PF Central Committee members and war veterans.
In an interview, he said: “What happened here is not of much importance because we are here to mourn our hero, Cde Tekere.
“We are all products of Cde Tekere’s sacrifices and people are free to express themselves.”
The Herald/TZG
Labels: FUNERALS, IAN MAKONE, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
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SACCORD condemns MMD cadres’ violence
By Salim Dawood
Mon 16 Aug. 2010, 04:01 CAT
Southern African Center for Constructive Resolution of Dispute (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda says the behavior of MMD cadres during the funeral of late Mpulungu member of Parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo is shameful and disgusting.
Habasonda was commenting on the MMD cadres beating of their party’s Chilanga parliamentarian Ng'andu Magande when he visited Chibomabamilimo's funeral house and the violence that characterised the requiem service at the Seventh Day Adventist church (UNZA) branch in Lusaka.
He said SACCORD was appalled that violence had become a trend at political gatherings and was now extending to funerals.
He said the behaviour of the MMD cadres at the funeral testified the party’s lack of respect for their late member despite their pronouncements that he was a honorable member of their party.
“The behavior is unacceptable and incompatible with both our traditional values as Zambians and to civilised politics. Zambians are known to bury their differences during funerals and mourn in peace and unity, that is why we must be ashamed of the violence that characterised the funeral,” Habasonda said.
He said funerals should be dignified occasions including church premises where requiem services where taking place and therefore turning funeral venues into political battlefields was worrying.
He said no matter how indecent a community was and no matter how much contempt people had for a person that died, the funeral place was the last place to fight and show their disrespect
He said it was unfortunate that young cadres could resort to even harassing and beating up an elderly person like Magande.
“We find it despicable that former Minster of Finance minister Ng'andu Magande was harassed by
young people. As SACCORD we strongly condemn that because no matter how strongly you differ you should not beat up elders especially at funerals,” he said.
He said political leaders were nurturing political hooligans who were potentially able to turn against them and subject them to the same violence if there was a political difference.
“The ones that are orchestrating and commanding violence against people should remember that they are creating a culture of intolerance and bloodshed and that they will be victims of the same violence when they have a political fallout,” he said.
Habasonda demanded that political leaders publicly condemn the violence by their cadres and restrain them form further violence.
He called on political leaders to ensure that party youths and cadres became advocates of peace and tolerance.
MMD cadres last Thursday beat up Magande and stole his phone when he visited the funeral house of Chibombamilimo and they also beat up and injured several PF cadres and a talk time vendor during the requiem service at Roma SDA church (UNZA) branch.
Labels: CADRES, FUNERALS, LAMECK CHIBOMBAMILIMO, LEE HABASONDE, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, SACCORD
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COMMENT - I wonder if he was paid by an NGO to raise the topic at funerals.
Mourners chase clergyman for preaching against promiscuity at burial
By Ernest Mwape in Mpika
Thu 05 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT
A MOB of Mpika taxi drivers on Tuesday booed and stopped Pentecostal Holiness Church Reverend George Chabanya from delivering a sermon during the burial of their colleague, Eubrena Mubanga, at Malambwa cemetery because of his talking strongly against promiscuity.
Trouble started soon after Rev Chabanya began preaching to hundreds of mourners that had gathered at the graveyard that they should not lead promiscuous lives because it was a sin.
As Rev Chabanya was preaching and repeated the words fornication and adultery several times, a mob of noisy taxi drivers rushed forward to where he was standing and ordered him to discontinue.
Some of them shouted; “ulelanda pafya bucende pano. Uyu driver tafwile kulifyo iyoo, bamwipeyefye (You are talking about fornication here; this driver did not die of what you are talking about, but was just murdered).
The drivers, who were earlier on given chance to pray before the burial programme, amidst shouts and whistling nearly caused confusion when they drew a funeral programme that they wanted to run parallel with that of the Church.
Some drivers openly said they were at the graveyard to bury their colleague and that although the Church had ‘hijacked’ the programme, it had not released any transport to collect the mourners.
Sensing danger, Rev Chabanya gave in to the calls by taxi drivers to stop preaching and left the platform amid cheers and jeers.
When he stepped aside and stood at a distance, the drivers clad in black shirts and T– shirts with black headbands took over the funeral programme.
Some of them started burying their colleague and during the confusion some mourners walked away in fury.
After the burial exercise, the drivers asked the Church members to continue with the rest of the funeral programme.
In an interview later, Rev Chabanya said it was unfortunate that people had misunderstood his Bible interpretation.
He said mourners, particularly taxi drivers, did not want him to talk about the evil that was eating away morals of society and that people had wanted him to talk about the murder of Eubrena.
Rev Chabanya said he was merely laying the foundation, but his preaching was cut short by the unruly drivers.
And addressing the mourners, acting Mpika district commissioner Muyangana Mubita described the killing of the driver as brutal and a very sad affair adding that he did not expect such type of a situation in a peaceful district like Mpika.
Mubita appealed to police in the area to deepen their investigations so that people involved in the killing of the driver were apprehended and law takes its course.
Eubrena was murdered last Friday by unknown people who damped his body along a gravel road leading to disused sewage pond, off Mpika-Kasama Road near Lwitikila River Bridge and stole his Toyota Corolla.
Labels: FUNERALS, HIV/AIDS
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HH calls for support of artistes when alive
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 24 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has urged people in public positions to support artistes when they are still alive.
During the funeral service for artiste and Muvi TV director of programmes Augustine Lungu at the Cathedral of Holy Cross yesterday, Hichilema urged other artistes to emulate Lungu’s works.
“Life is never complete with just hard work…without the component of leisure, Augustine drew our attention when he did a play or interviewed you… You needed to do some homework when you were about to be interviewed by him,” Hichilema said.
Lusaka Province minister Charles Shawa said Lungu was a multi-talented person.
Shawa said Lungu always shared his knowledge without any attachments.
Meanwhile, mourners broke down when Lungu’s children paid their last tribute.
And former National Arts Council of Zambia chairman Mumba Kapumpa caused laugher in church when he told the gathering that he had become a born again Christian.
Kapumpa urged artistes to seek the Lord when they were still alive because no amount of preaching would save them when they were dead.
“Augustine knew the Lord just like me. In case you think I’m still the same chap you saw dancing to Rhumba music a couple of years ago, you are mistaken because I knew the Lord in 2003,” Kapumpa said.
Thousands of mourners among them government officials and opposition leaders turned up at the church service to pay their last respects to Lungu.
Lungu, who was born on December 12, 1970, died last week on Friday and is survived by a wife Kamwengo and four children.
Labels: AUGUSTINE LUNGU, FUNERALS, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MUSIC
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