By DELPHINE ZULU –
FIRST Lady Dr Christine Kaseba has appealed to Zambians to uphold peace and ignore anyone trying to provoke them until the country puts President Michael Sata to rest.
Dr Kaseba said Zambia was a hub of peace which no one should be allowed to tamper with until the burial of the late President because that was what he preached during his political life and at home.
“My advice is ignore such people until we bury our beloved President, let’s uphold our nation peacefully, it is a haven of peace,” Dr Kaseba said.
She said this in a speech delivered for her by Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata at the Lusaka Showgrounds yesterday when she joined people gathered there to mourn Mr Sata.
The First Lady said Zambians, regardless of colour, age and religious denomination, should respect Mr Sata’s funeral and mourn him with dignity.
She arrived at the showgrounds around 15:00 hours in the company of other family members and went straight to sit on the red carpet after turning down the offer to sit on the chair prepared by her security detail.
Dr Kaseba said the only way to mourn the President was to ignore those trying to perpetrate violence and provoking citizens and ensure that they restrained themselves no matter the amount of anger.
“Please do not take to the streets when provoked, it does not show respect to the deceased. Remember when he won (the election) in 2011, we were all excited and others took to the streets but it only took a word from him to stop us. So be it even now, no fighting or protests until the last day,” she said.
Zambia is a Christian Nation and, as such, people are expected to behave like Christians all the time, especially when others are mourning, and she asked God to take full control of the current situation as Mr Sata was the President for all Zambians.
“I am here to mourn with you because Mr Sata was a people person. I have left State House to join you so that we can mourn together and be in the same boat. I will mourn with you until we bury our dear President,” Dr Kaseba said.
Earlier, Peace Preachers band leader Martha Chishimba, who offered the first prayer, said there was need for all Zambians to mourn Mr Sata in harmony and peace because he never loved confusion.