.SATA

By MIRIAM ZIMBA –

MANY Zambians and people world over will remember him as Zambia’s fifth republican president and a  charismatic politician.
His family holds fond memories of the late Michael Chilufya Sata, to them; he was a father, mentor, grandfather, husband, uncle and pillar of the family.
Former first lady Christine Kaseba, who fondly referred to the late head of State as “Bashi Chilufya” or “Ba Mikaeli”, thanks God for President Sata’s life, because it touched many souls in different ways.
“We thank God for giving you  to us. Every day is a constant reminder of the good and bad times we went through, the loving and sharing, the giving and caring. I miss your jokes and Bemba sayings. With fond memories, I remember how we stood together facing those difficult situations till we conquered. Oh how I miss my friend and confidante,” she reminisced.
Dr Kaseba remembers one of Mr Sata’s favourite Bible quotes – Luke 23: 28, which read: “Weep not for me but for yourselves and your children.”
Dr Kaseba said the scripture has come to pass as she and the children have been left to cry for themselves.
“It has been a painful year, full of hardships, trials, tears and sorrows. I search for you and find you not, wake up every morning reaching out for you but the harsh reality of your permanent absence haunts me and I cry my silent tears hoping that it is just a bad dream and one day I will see your face,” she reflected in part.
“Through it all, I have learnt to trust in Jesus and I have been amazed at what faith in God could do,” said Dr Kaseba.
His daughter Mwelwa , describes him as a kind loving father who raised his entire children very well.
“I do not know about the rest, but I can vouch that dad was both my mother and father during my infant years while mum was at school in Birmingham. I guess that is when we developed our irreplaceable bond.
I do not mean to rub it in, but I can attest to the fact that I was spoilt by my father. I was his untouchable princess,” she recounts.
Mwelwa  will forever remain indebted to her father for having empowered her at a tender age.
He nurtured amazing virtues in his children, among them honesty and humility.
Although Mr Sata appeared to be a controversial  man in public, he was, however, a gentle kind and loving man.
“I remember one man in 2008 asked me what dad was like as a father and was astonished by my response. In his eyes MCS was going to be the next Hitler. But it is for this reason that there is the saying “Do not judge a book by its cover,” she narrates.
Mr Sata is a man who enjoyed odd chores such as doing the laundry, gardening and cooking.
The late president was ‘handy-man’ at home-he took care of all the mechanical, engineering and technical chores in the home.
Mr Sata’s passion for being in the kitchen is something he probably inherited from his father (popularly referred to Ba shikulu Mpundu) who was a chef, and this is something Mr Sata always talked about-he was very proud of being the son of a chef.
Late president Sata is one who had an obsession with cleanliness-at every chance he got, he would engage himself in arranging and re-arranging things around the home.
Born and raised in a home of values, he extended his humble nature and courteous heart to others.
By  the early 2000’s, he had lost all his siblings, this meant that not only did he have to fend for his own family but also for other family members.
From a tender age, Mr Sata had his priorities and aspirations set out-he wanted to change the world around him, and made it clear to his family that he would aspire for excellence-this meant that he would stop at nothing to achieve his goal-which was to become Zambia’s president.
Mr Sata believed that greatness would not be given on a silver platter but would have to be obtained through hard work.
His nephew Kafula Mutale recalls  a particular incident when he travelled with the late Mr Sata from Kitwe to Lusaka.
“He gave me his gun to keep in case we met bandits on the way, and joked by saying ‘tenama yamumpanga muleya mukulunga, muntu ngaisa mukutupoka motoka pama’ traffic lights (this gun is not meant for animals in the forest, but for bandits who may wish to hijack the vehicle from us at the robbots).
“This is something we laughed off and I still remember to this date,” he recounts.
Mr Mutale describes his uncle as having been a deep rooted family man who upheld unity in both the nuclear and extended family.
True to this, his passion for a strong united family transcended family boundaries and engulfed the nation where he espoused for a strong and united Zambia.
Mr Mutale learnt many valuable life lessons from his uncle.
“I learnt that in life you ought to be focused and know what you want to achieve before embarking on a path.
Mr Mutale would want the nation to remember Mr Sata as a man who did things in his own style
“He must be remembered as a result-obsessed individual who would move mountains to achieve results that would impress and benefit the general populace,” he said.
According to him, Mr Sata was a people person who always put the interest of  others before his, hence the love both his family and Zambians had for him.
One unique character he had is that  of  forgiveness-he readily and easily forgave his adversaries and embraced them in order to forge ahead and develop Zambia.
He did not have time to hold grudges. He spoke his mind, and he was a good listener too. He was a good shepherd in his own right, and presided over the affairs of this country to the best of his abilities.
“Being human beings that we are, he was not immune from making mistakes. He made mistakes in his life, just like any other human being. If there are people that he  may have injured during his life on earth, and they still feel injured and offended, I can only beg them to forgive him, as Alexander Pope observed; “To err is human, to forgive, is divine,” Mr Mutale said.”
His niece Rachael Banda will remember Mr Sata as  a jovial man who was bold and an amazing man-a rare combination in one man.
Another niece Natasha Chikonde describes him as one who  was passionate about what he did.
“Seeing him being so passionate and having this drive in him was very encouraging to everyone and it made  us believe in him even more.”
“He taught us to always have perseverance and enjoy the life the Lord has blessed us with, and he will be remembered by the nation as a strong, honest leader who always cracked funny jokes wherever he went.
Not only was he a father to us but a father to our nation.
The Bemba proverb Ukutangilila  tekufika will always  remind  his grand daughter, Kangwa  Tembo about Mr Sata.
“He always told me these words countless times, instead of placing me into a job position I was not qualified for, he always advised me to continue with my education  because he may not always be there to hold my hand”
“Ho told me that with the right  academic papers   in the world of work, things would fall into place and I wouldn’t be pushed around. I look at where I am today and I am grateful I had the ears to listen.
He also said that hard work and passion is the root of all success,” she recounts.
One of the most important lessons she learnt from him was that there are no short-cuts to life, but that everything worth its  salt in life should take time to prepare, just like good food does.
Such as the life of Mr Sata, born to Langford Mubanga Sata and Harienta Bukali Kabuswe-Zambia’s fifth republican  president who lived between July 6 1937 to October 28,2014.
“There can only be one Michael Sata, and to claim that I will achieve what he achieved by having been his student of life, would be a lie”,
Mr Mutale  said of  his late uncle.
True to these words, human beings are like finger prints-none is like the other-May his soul continue to rest in eternal peace.