Zambia: Chiluba Burial Day Declared Holiday

25 June 2011

President Rupiah Banda has declared Monday June 27, 2011, the day second president of the Republic of Zambia Frederick Chiluba will be put to rest, as a public holiday.

Dr Chiluba died in the early hours of Saturday June 18, 2011 at his Kabulonga home.Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that the body of the former president would today and tomorrow lie in state at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

“The secretary to Cabinet has announced that His Excellency the President Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda has declared Monday June 27, 2011 a public holiday as the nation puts to rest second president of the Republic of Zambia Dr Chiluba who died on June18, 2011.

“Paying of last respects by the general public will start on Saturday June 25, 2011 from 11:30 hours to 18:00 hours and Sunday from 08:00hours to 18:00 hours,” he said.

And Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa Bizwayo Nkunika said Zambians living in that country were saddened with the death of Dr Chiluba because the last time he went for his routine medical review he appeared very fit and assured them he looked forward to contributing to national development.

Lieutenant-Colonel Nkunika said Dr Chiluba, who was in South Africa from April 26 to May 16, 2011, looked stronger and that the two even held private talks.

“It is a great shock to all Zambians in South Africa to hear that the person we saw, talked to and who looked very fit is dead.

Dr Chiluba will always be remembered by all Zambians in South Africa for being a courageous man and for wise advice to us,” Lt-Col Nkunika said.

He said all good things people were talking about Dr Chiluba were blessings because he laid a strong foundation to make what Zambia was today and that his works should be appreciated by all citizens.

And Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has said it will remain indebted to Dr Chiluba for the role he played in restoring peace to that country.

DRC acting Consul-General Konji Maloba Chantel who was speaking in Ndola shortly after signing the book of condolences at the provincial offices said Dr Chiluba contributed greatly to her country.

Ms Chantel said Dr Chiluba was a major facilitator in restoring peace and that she was mourning with the rest of the Zambia.

In her message in the book of condolences, she sent her condolences to the Zambians on the death of Dr Chiluba.

” On behalf of the Congolese government, staff at the DRC Consulate-General and on my own behalf we convey and present our deepest condolences to the people of Zambia, our brothers and sisters,” she said in her message.

The Chinese contractors who are building the stadium in Ndola have also conveyed their condolences to the Zambian people in the book of condolences.

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