.OBAMA

By CHARITY MOONGA –

WORLD leaders have continued to mourn with Zambia after the passing of President Michael Sata.
United States (US) of America President Barack Obama has sent a message of condolences to First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba, and the people of Zambia on the death of President Sata.
This is according to a statement made available in Lusaka yesterday by the office of the Press Secretary at the White House in Washington DC.
President Obama said the US strongly supported a peacefully constitutional transition of power as Zambia moved forward during this time of sorrow.
He said his country also remained committed to enduring friendship and partnership with Zambia.
The US would continue to seek opportunities to enhance its bilateral relations, support Zambia’s democratic traditions, increase its development and strengthen its commitment to a free and just society.
Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom has also sent her condolences to Acting President Guy Scott on the death of President Sata.
“It is with sadness that I learnt of the death of President Michael Chilufya Sata. His passing will be felt both in Zambia and across Southern Africa. On behalf of the United Kingdom, Prince Philip and I wish to convey our deepest sympathy to his family and to the people of the Republic of Zambia at this sad time,” he said.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon also said he was deeply saddened by the passing on of Mr Sata.
UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said at a Press conference in New York that Mr Ban was mourning with the people of Zambia.
“The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia who died on October 28, 2014,” Mr Dujarric said.
This is according to a statement issued by first secretary for Press and public relations at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the UN Chibaula Silwamba.
Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida, in his eulogy of the late Head of State, said President Sata advocated people-led economic growth and development and was committed to Zambia’s social and economic development.
President Sata made a working visit to Japan in 2012 and participated in the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) held in Yokohama in June 2013.
He made tremendous contributions not only to advancing bilateral relations between Japan and Zambia, but also to promoting the TICAD process that Japan advocates for.
“The Government of Japan offers its heartfelt prayers for the repose of President Sata’s soul and wishes that the Government of Zambia and its people will overcome this sadness and continue to progress toward the further development and prosperity of Zambia,” Mr Kishida.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed shock at the death of Mr Sata.
In his message of condolences, Mr Xi said President Sata attached great importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations between China and Zambia.
During Mr Sata’s presidency, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries had been further consolidated and developed.
Mr Xi highly valued the relations between China and Zambia, and believed that, with the joint efforts of the two Governments and two peoples, the China-Zambia relationship and the traditional friendship between the two peoples would continue to achieve new progress.