.SATA

By CHARITY MOONGA, CHUSA SICHONE, REBECCA MUSHOTA and MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –

ZAMBIANS across the country are in mourning following news of President Michael Sata’s death.
Immediately the announcement was made yesterday morning, the church called for calm, unity and peace as the country mourns Zambia’s fifth leader who died on Tuesday evening.
Mr Sata, 77, died at King Edward VII Hospital in Beaumont, central London at 20:11 hours Zambian time.
Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska announced the death of Mr Sata, in an address to the nation carried live on both radio and television at 08:30 hours yesterday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I address you today, to inform the nation that our beloved President and Leader, His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata has passed on.
“The Head of State passed on, on October 28, 2014 in London at 20:11 hours Zambian time at King Edward VII Hospital,” Dr Msiska said.
His spouse, Dr Christine Kaseba, son Mulenga Sata and other people were by the bedside at the time of his passing.
Mr Sata left Zambia on October 19 with Dr Kaseba, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah and close family members for London, in the United Kingdom where he was receiving medical attention.
Mr Sata was born on July 6, 1937 in Mpika.
Dr Msiska regretted the death of Mr Sata and urged all Zambians to remain calm, united and peaceful during this period.
The nation would be informed about other details regarding the funeral and burial arrangements.
Dr Msiska also advised people outside Lusaka not to travel to Lusaka for the funeral until the Government gave guidance on funeral arrangements.
Mr Sata became President in September 2011 after defeating MMD President Rupiah Banda, whose party had been in power for 20 years.
The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship in Zambia (EFZ) and Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that they received news of President Sata’s death with deepest sorrow and heartfelt sadness.
CCZ general secretary Suzanne Matale, EFZ executive director Pukuta Mwanza and ZEC secretary general Cleophas Lungu described Mr Sata’s sudden death, which happened when Zambia was still commemorating its Golden Jubilee, as very disturbing.
“This very disturbing news casts a dark cloud over the nation. On behalf of the three Christian church mother bodies in Zambia, we express our sincere condolences to the First Family, the Government and the people of Zambia following this great loss,” the statement read in part.
Former President Banda described the late Mr Sata as a passionate and determined competitor who should be mourned with dignity and honour.
Mr Banda also appealed to Zambians to set aside the ideas that separate them and embrace the humanity and dignity that define them as a people.
Mr Banda yesterday phoned President Sata’s son, Mulenga, in London to convey his condolences to the family.
The Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) is saddened by the death of Mr Sata, who was popularly known as a man of action.
ZNWL Board chairperson Beauty Katebe said Zambia had been robbed of a true patriot and gender activist who worked towards the advancement of the status of women in Zambia, particularly on increasing the number of women in decision-making positions.
“We mostly remember him for his efforts of bridging the gender gap by elevating many women to key decision-making positions, including sectors that were in the past a preserve of men like the Police Service, Drug-Enforcement Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission, to mention but a few.
“Thanks to the late President Sata, the Judiciary can now boast of 40 per cent women in decision-making positions, most of them at the highest level. We thank the President for the confidence he showed in the women of Zambia and setting a good precedent for future leaders,” she said.

The Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) said the gender movement would remember President Sata as one of the leaders, in the country’s history, that appointed a number of women to key decision-making positions.
“We saw the first-ever female Chief Justice, the first-ever female Inspector-General of Police, the first-ever female Commissioner of the Drug-Enforcement Commission, and the first-ever female Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, among other notable strategic appointments,” NGOCC chairperson Beatrice Grillo said.
MISA Zambia chairperson Hellen Mwale said they would remember President Sata for his contribution towards media freedom, which included making the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act of 2002 operational and allowing the Zambian media to self-regulate through the Zambian Media Council (ZAMEC).
The Chamber of Mines is also saddened by the death of Mr Sata who they said provided a harmonious environment between the Government and Zambians.
Chamber of Mines president Jackson Sikamo said in an interview yesterday that the death of President Sata had shocked Zambia and put the nation in mourning.
The Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers Union (NUMAW) said Mr Sata did a lot for Zambia’s miners in the three years he served as President.
MUZ general secretary Joseph Chewe said in Kitwe yesterday that the union received the news of President Sata’s death with shock.
“It is the spirit and culture of hard work President Sata inculcated in the Zambian people and also for the passion of improving the welfare of the general citizenry as seen by the pro-poor policies the late Head of State brought on board,” Mr Chewe said.
NUMAW president James Chansa said the President’s death was a blow to the nation and the people on the Copperbelt who voted overwhelmingly for him.
Mine Suppliers and Contractors Association of Zambia president Bwalya Mufonka said his members and the nation as a whole would miss President Sata, particularly for his passion to empower the Zambian people.
Opposition Green Party of Zambia leader Peter Sinkamba expressed deep sympathy to the First Family and the Patriotic Front (PF) and Zambians over the death of President Sata.