23 June 2011
The family of second president of the Republic of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba has said it will uphold beliefs that guided his life and respect critical decisions that he made while he was still alive.
Family spokesperson Ben Mwila said yesterday that Dr Chiluba, who died in Lusaka last Saturday at the age of 68, had refused any kind of operation to his heart in line with the Lunda tradition and his Christian beliefs even at critical times during his illness.
Mr Mwila said as such, there was no need to conduct an autopsy because that would violate Dr Chiluba’s wishes which the family members were aware about.
He said the family did not have any intention of investigating the death of Dr Chiluba because it was convinced that he died of his known heart condition.
Speaking at a media briefing at the venue of mourning attended by Dr Chiluba’s sons and representatives from the family of the widow Regina, former wife Vera Tembo and elders from Luapula Province, where Dr Chiluba came from, Mr Mwila said people circulating information that there were demands for a post-mortem wanted to divide the family.
The Post newspaper in its yesterday’s edition reported that some unnamed sons of Dr Chiluba had demanded a post-mortem to determine the cause of the death of the second president.
However, Mr Mwila said that was meant to cause divisions within the family.
He spoke shortly after a meeting involving all key family members following the report in The Post that Dr Chiluba’s sons had asked for an autopsy.
“It is regrettable that private matters such as Dr Chiluba’s health were unnecessarily thrust in the public domain with no regard to the decency and privacy that he was entitled to as a human being.
“The family resolved, among other things, that no formal request for an autopsy or post-mortem will be made,” he said.
Mr Mwila said Dr Chiluba refused any kind of an operation to his heart in line with the Lunda tradition and his Christian beliefs even at critical times during his illness.
“In 2006, Dr Chiluba refused doctors’ directives that to save his life, they needed to offer him a heart transplant.
“In 2007, a team of UTH (University Teaching Hospital) doctors recommended that to mitigate the circumstances of his serious heart condition, a pace-maker needed to be implanted in him. He turned down this offer,” Mr Mwila said.
He said the family also felt that Dr Chiluba was president for all Zambians regardless of their political affiliation and that everyone was welcome to mourn with them.
“Dr Chiluba demonstrated this when he attended the sickness or funerals of people from all walks of life and from members of all political parties.
“We therefore call upon all Zambians who wish to express condolences and wish to mourn with the family to pass through at Bervedere Lodge n Lusaka,” Mr Mwila said.
He also extended the family’s gratitude to President Rupiah Banda and his Government for their financial and material contributions towards the funeral expenses of Dr Chiluba.
President Banda has declared seven days of national mourning in honour of Dr Chiluba who would be buried at Embassy Park in Lusaka on Monday.
AllAfrica – All the Time