By Kondanani Chilimunthaka
President Lazarus Chakwera who is currently attending UN summit for Least Developed Countries in New York, has described late Former President for the Republic of Zambia, Rupiah Bwezani Banda as a humble servant of the people of Zambia and a friend to the rest of African.
In his message of condolences conveyed to President Hakainde Hichilema, the people of the Republic of Zambia, and the bereaved family which was delivered by Former President of Malawi, Bakili Muluzi, President Chakwera said late Rupiah Banda was an outstanding human being, a humble servant of the people of Zambia, a friend to the rest of Africa, outstanding exemplary of African leader, and a friend of Malawi.
“President Rupiah Banda was an outstanding leader, an asset not only to Zambia, but to the rest of us in Africa. Indeed the history of the liberation, struggle of South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia as it has been stated earlier on, cannot be written without recording the main sacrifices made by the people of Zambia under the leadership of its founding father, President Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda. President Rupiah Banda was among those Zambians who played an outstanding and supporting role in the struggle, for during that difficult period when the people of the neighboring states were engaged in the struggle to free themselves from the yoke of white minority rule, Zambians stood grounds with the fellow Africans in the struggle.” Read part of the condolence message from President Chakwera.
Born on February 13, 1937 in Miko, Zimbabwe, late Rupiah Bwezani Banda was the forth President of Zambia qho served as the country’s Vice President to late President Levie Mwanawasa from 2006 before becoming the President following the death of Mwanawasa in 2008. He served as forth President for Zambia until 2011.
Banda has died on March 11,2022 at the age of 85.