• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu with First Lady Esther, greeting former First Lady Christine Kaseba during the memorial of the late President Michael Sata at Embassy Park in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu yesterday led scores of people from different walks of life at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church in Lusaka to celebrate the life of late President Michael Sata who died on October 28, last year.
The late President was fondly remembered as a hero and a legend.
The people joined the former First Lady Christine Kaseba, children and family in commemorating Mr Sata’s first memorial service at the Church and the gathering later proceeded to Embassy Park to lay wreaths at his grave.
President Lungu said the late Mr Sata had a rare drive for success and accommodated everyone.
He said Mr Sata was inspirational and admired by many, including his opponents.
“Remembering the life of President Sata in a moment such as this one is particularly difficult for me because Mr Sata personally mentored me. I learnt a lot from him silently and I am extremely indebted to him,” he said.
Mr Lungu said Mr Sata had left a legacy as an architect of massive development going by many developmental projects he had initiated over the decades.
He said Mr Sata’s desire was to make a better Zambia which led him to aspire for the presidency.
He embarked on a massive road infrastructure development campaign and created new districts upon assuming office.
President Lungu said the only way Zambians could honour such a great man was to emulate him by working hard.
Meanwhile, Father Charles Chilinda said President Sata was a hero in Zambia, who changed the course of history.
“While his loss is great, his legacy is even greater. Many of you will not be where you are, including ministers and your excellency President Lungu, if it was not for him,” he said.
To many, Mr Sata seemed like a dictator, unaccommodating and hard, but yet he was kind with a deep sense of charity.
Father Chilinda said Mr Sata reflected the love of God because he was driven by concern for the poor and love for other people.
It was at that point that Father Chilinda invited President Lungu, United Party for National Development President Hakainde Hichilema, Fourth Revolution leader Eric Chanda, People’s Party leader Mike Mulongoti and Zambia Direct Democracy Movement Party Edwin Sakala to go to the front and shake hands, much to the delight of the public.
Family representative Guy Scott said President Sata knew his politics to perfection and was magical with people of all ages.
Dr Scott said he had finished writing a book entitled, ‘In White and Black’ based on Mr Sata’s life which would be available for sale next year.
After the service, Mr Hichilema said Mr Sata did the best he could and Zambians should thank him for his contribution.
Mr Sata joined politics through UNIP in the 1970s, where he ascended to the position of Lusaka governor and then joined MMD in 1991 after which he held many ministerial positions.
He left MMD and formed PF in which, despite being in the opposition for 10 years, losing three presidential elections, never gave up and emerged victorious in 2011 when he became President.
Mr Hichilema in a separate statement said he remembered the late Mr Sata as a prolific politician.
“At a personal level, I learnt a lot from Mr Sata. Many of you might be surprised that I am saying these things. We did not agree with the late Michael Sata in ideology and principle, but that is how democracy must operate and it should not take away the fact that he was a politician in his own class,” he said.
Mr Hichilema said Mr Sata was a man with a rare political acumen that resonated well with the common person on the streets.