• Pall bearers carry the casket of late President Michael Chilufya Sata upon arrival yesterday at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka from London.

IT was encouraging yesterday to note that all Zambians from all walks of life yesterday united to receive the body of President Michael Sata.
Political leaders had to put aside their differences and converged at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) to receive the body of President Sata.
This unity of purpose is highly commendable and it is expected that throughout the whole period of national mourning, Zambians will remain peaceful and award the departed Head of State a befitting send off.
The late President gave his entire life in trying to develop the country and is known to have been a peace maker.
As such, there is need for Zambians to accord him a befitting send-off and continue to build on what he stood for.
It would be a disservice for anyone to engage in activities that can lead to turmoil.
Now is the time that citizens should remain united and join the first family in mourning the leader who had close to his heart the poor.
Whenever President Sata had a chance to engage in discourse, he openly said that he wanted the poor to also get a cake from Zambia’s wealth.
In the three years he led this country, President Sata truly stuck to his vision of wanting to better Zambia.
He tirelessly worked to ensure that Zambians despite their location had better roads, schools, clinics and other social amenities.
It’s no doubt the reason why many Zambians queued up from KKIA along the Great East Road to Mulungushi International Conference centre to have a glimpse of the gun carriage that had the Head of States body.
People openly broke down and could not hold their tears as the casket on the gun carriage passed by.
It is therefore imperative, that all Zambians should celebrate the life of President Sata with honour and dignity.
Zambia is going through yet another trying moment but with God’s grace it will pull through.
The unity exhibited by opposition political leaders such as Nevers Mumba of the MMD and his United Party for National Development (UPND) counterpart Hakainde Hichilema is commendable.
There is need for all Zambians to remain steadfast and mourn Mr Sata with dignity.
A number of interviews conducted by the media both print and electronic from the common man on the streets go to show that the President was loved.
One thing which continually comes out is that he loved the poor and mingled with them.
His passion to develop Zambia is what earned him the position to serve as republican President and would be missed by many.
No wonder many Zambians want the person who would take over from him to have a heart for the poor.