. MUNG’OMBA

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA and PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott yesterday led hundreds of mourners at a funeral service for the late prominent lawyer and business executive Wila Mung’omba who has been eulogised as a level-headed person who brought sanity in everything he did.
Dr Scott said during the requiem mass held at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka that Zambia would forever be indebted to the contributions Mr Mung’omba made to the development of the country.
“On behalf of President Michael Sata and the people of Zambia, I would like to thank him for what he did for the country and I convey deepest condolences to the widow and the bereaved family,” Dr Scott said.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda gave a lengthy eulogy in honour of Mr Mung’omba who served the country in various capacities, including that of chairperson of the Constitution Review Commission.
Mr Chikwanda said Mr Mung’omba’s legacy in all the positions he held in business, the legal fraternity and politics would forever be a reference point in Zambia’s history.
Others who spoke at the service were Mr Mung’omba’s wife Betty, daughter Chomba, Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings chief executive officer Mukela Muyunda, and African Development Bank representative Ebrima Faal.
The service was attended by First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba, acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda, and Government officials.
Earlier, Ms Justice Chibesakunda described Mr Mung’omba as a giant son of Zambia who contributed immensely to the development of the country.
She said Mr Mung’omba contributed to the development of the legal fraternity and business such as the banking industry.
She was speaking yesterday at a joint High Court and Supreme Court valedictory session at the Supreme Court building in Lusaka.
Eleven judges from the Supreme Court, High Court and Industrial Relations Court led by Ms Justice Chibesakunda presided over the session.
Those in attendance included Mr Chikwanda, Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito, Solicitor General Musa Mwenye, Government officials, lawyers and other people from all walks of life.
Mr Mwenye said Mr Mung’omba was a man with outstanding qualities and that his death had come with a shock.
Law Association of Zambia president James Banda said Mr Mung’omba was a great patriot who rendered his services to the nation with honour and integrity in various fields.