The Country Honours Deserving Citizens

26 May 2011

ZAMBIA yesterday joined the rest of the African continent in commemorating the Africa Freedom Day with several individuals honoured for the role they played in the liberation struggle. At a colourful ceremony at the Lusaka Show Grounds attended by leaders of some opposition political parties, former president Frederick Chiluba and several dignitaries, President Rupiah Banda honoured some Zambians with various awards.

This year’s ceremony was celebrated under the theme “Accelerating youth empowerment for sustainable development”.â-¨The president’s medal for gallantry was awarded to John Mwape, Anna Matoka, Joe Mungole and Ackson Chingobe, who was honoured posthumously.â-¨Ms Matoka was honoured for her bravery as she had wrestled with a crocodile that had attacked a girl in Kafue River until she saved her life. At the time she fought the crocodile, several onlookers watched the girl being dragged into the river but Ms Matoka jumped in despite being pregnant and pulled the child away from the reptile. In his citation read by State House chief-of-staff Austin Sichinga, President Banda said Ms Matoka exhibited rare courage and humanity by struggling with the crocodile while other people watched in awe. The president also honoured Mr Mwape with the same award for saving a two-year-old girl who had fallen into a pit latrine in Chibuluma Township in Kitwe on April 13, 2009.

Mr Mwape quickly mobilised other residents to break the latrine and jumped into human waste where he retrieved the child alive.â-¨Mr Banda awarded Mr Mungole who managed to capture 14 inmates who had escaped from a moving motor vehicle but he followed and ambushed them on Independence Avenue where he held them at gun-point until police arrived.â-¨The president’s medal for gallantry was also given to Mr Chingobe posthumously who was stabbed to death by inmates at Mukobeko Maximum Prison after they attempted to escape.â-¨Those awarded to be grand commanders of the order of distinguished service included Mike Kunda Changwe and Peter Dingi Zuze for their outstanding service in the public service. The president decorated Rapheal Simon Mungole with the grand officer of distinguished service second division.â-¨John Tiyaonse, Dickson Sakala and Laston Nyirenda were decorated with the order of distinguished service, third division. Jude McKenna was awarded with the president’s insignia of honour.

The ceremony was attended by Vice-President George Kunda, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa, Cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and several Government and party officials. National Democratic Focus president Benjamin Mwila, New Revolutionary Party leader Cosmo Mumba and United Liberal Party secretary general Langton Sichone also attended the ceremony. Some traditional dance troupes and entertainers, among them Brian Chilala of the Ngoma Zasu Band, David Livingstone Teachers Training College, a joint military choir, and a Cuban group that churned out Salsa tunes added pomp and splendor to the celebrations.

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