By CHARITY MOONGA
THE United Kingdom (UK) has sent a message of condolences to Zambia on the death of President Michael Sata.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond offered condolences to the people of Zambia following the death of President Sata in a London Hospital on Tuesday evening.
“I was saddened to hear of the death of President Michael Sata. He played a commanding role in the public life of his country over three decades, as governor of Lusaka, as the holder of several ministerial
positions in the 1990s, as the main opposition leader, and finally asPresident.
”I would like to offer my condolences to his family and to the Zambian people at this time,” Mr Hammond said.
United States Ambassador-designate Eric Schultz was deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Sata, describing him as a man of the people who was strongly committed to building his country during its first 50 years.
Schultz said America recognised Mr Sata’s many accomplishments and his passion for advancing Zambia’s development.
“We join the Zambian people, Dr Christine Kaseba-Sata and President Sata’s family in mourning his passing. The United States and the
American people will always remain committed to our Zambian friends, especially at this time of mourning and sorrow.
“We will continue working closely with the Zambian Government in moving forward and anticipate a peaceful and constitutional transition,” Mr Schultz said.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) said it had received the news of the sudden demise of President Sata with great shock.
COMESA chairperson Joseph Kabila, who is Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President, paid tribute to the late President, who dedicated his entire life to uplifting the economic and social status of the
citizens in the country and the Eastern and Southern African regions.
Mr Kabila said this in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya.
“COMESA joins the acting President Dr Guy Scott, the First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba, the first family, Government and the Zambian people in mourning  the sadden demise of President Sata.
“As  COMESA region, we would like to convey our deepest condolences to the Acting President Dr Scott, the First  Lady, the Sata family and the Government on this sad loss,” Mr Kabila said.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said he had learnt with great sorrow
the passing of Mr Sata.
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya and on my own behalf, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late President Sata and to the people of the Republic of Zambia.

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“We share the pain of this loss. We mourn – with our Zambian brothers and sisters – the passing of another Africa’s great independence-era leader. Our prayers are with the people of Zambia at this moment of national grief,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta said President Sata was an exceptional leader in many ways and that he was gifted with unique, admirable abilities and strong values. His perseverance and determination saw him pursue his vision for Zambia.
“This consistency paid off when he emerged victorious in the elections of 2011, after a long spell as an opposition leader. Indeed his rise from humble beginnings to the top office teaches us an important
lesson: A worthy individual can triumph over the most daunting adversities,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta said Mr Sata was a strong advocate of multiparty democracy who propagated a great sense of national unity in an immensely diverse country.
He believed in the noble principles of equity, justice and cohesion.
“President Sata was an outstanding son of Africa. In his long and exemplary life, he made valuable contributions to the welfare of the people of Zambia and our Continent. Therefore, as we pay homage to this visionary leader, let us also celebrate and honour his life and achievements,” Mr Kenyatta said.
The Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Professor Ntumba Luaba said, “the passing away of President Sata is a great loss for Zambia and the entire Great Lakes Region. His spirited leadership in promoting peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes Region over the past years was critical to the ICGLR’s efforts to bring peace and stability in eastern DRC”.
President Sata was also a staunch ally in the fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and the fight against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources.