Recently in Lusaka, Zambia

WHEN the body of the late President of Zambia, Michael Chilufya Sata arrived at the National Heroes Stadium in Zambia, thousands of Zambians in the stadium wept.
Their mournful lamentations could be heard from all the corners of the stadium.
The Zambians wailed for the loss of a unique hero, comrade and a leader that had them at heart.
Their tears were for the loss of a man referred to by President Robert Mugabe as ‘a man of the people’.
“It was leadership to improve lots of people, to get them freedom, to bring them development, to bring happiness to them and hence he was a man of the people, there are very few like him,” said President Mugabe on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on Tuesday.
November 11 2014 became a day when Zambians filled the Heroes Stadium for the final send-off of the late Zambian President Michael Chilufya Sata.
The Zambian government declared two weeks of mourning and for those two weeks, Zambians wept irrepressibly for Sata who passed away on October 28 2014 at King Edward VII Hospital Beaumont Central in London.
For two weeks the Zambian people dedicated their time to mourn their President, leader and father of the nation.
Their grief could be easily noticed as many woke up early to witness the burial.
The gloomy and sombre atmosphere could be seen with very little activity and cars in Cairo Street, one of the busiest in Lusaka.
Industries and shops were closed across the nation, while many from other provinces gathered in churches to celebrate the life of their leader.
Many from the suburbs surrounding Lusaka, who could not go for the final farewell at Heroes Stadium, woke up early to stand outside their yards only to peep at the convoys of vehicles going for the Requiem Mass and burial.
It was President Sata’s attachment with the people of Zambia, particularly the poor that saw many waiting patiently in long queues into the National Heroes Stadium.
“He was a man of the people, let him live in our memory, let him live in our hearts,” said President Mugabe at the Requiem Mass, speaking as the Southern African Development Community Chairman.
“Let the buildings speak of him, let the streets speak of him.”
For three years President Sata, who was referred to as ‘man of action’, ruled Zambia and her people, leaving it at an advanced stage in terms of development.
His achievements can be seen in the legacy he left for the people of Zambia.
In that short period he reigned, bridges, clinics, universities and roads were built.
It is the love for Zambians that saw President Sata instigating the construction of bridges including the famous Michael Chilufya Sata Bridge which is across the Kafue River.
His name is hailed for the completion of the modern 60 000-seater National Heroes Stadium, the construction of public universities such as Robert Kapasa Mapasa, Paul Mushindo Universities in Chinsali District and Muchinga Province, health posts and district hospitals such as Chilubi District Hospital and Phase Two of the Cancer diseases hospital in Lusaka.
His development projects did not only focus on urban areas, but also the remote areas of Zambia.
He recognised past leaders through renaming the three international airports such as Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola.
A gender sensitive leader, President Sata appreciated the role of women in society and duly appointing them to key decision making positions.
For example, Stella Libongani became Zambia’s first female Inspector General of Police under President Sata’s reign.
Turning to relations with Zimbabwe, it is important to note that it is during his reign that the Zimbabwe-Zambia bi-lateral relations were cemented resulting in the co-hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly (UNWTO) in August 2013 in Victoria Falls and Livingstone.
As the SADC Chair, President Mugabe described the late Zambian leader as a great freedom fighter.
He said President Sata’s death was a loss not only to Zambia, but to Southern Africa as a whole.
“A dark cloud covers Zambia, SADC and even Africa,” he said.
“He (President Sata) sought to improve the general welfare of his people and established excellent brotherly relations with Zimbabwe and its people.
“Yes he is departed, we will feel his loss tremendously.
“He is of that age that fought the struggle against white colonialism very early on, the courageous age, and that calibre of people is gone there are very few of us, KK (Kenneth Kaunda) ,the others are fighting for money, leadership for money not so Sata.
“The most tribute to pay to Sata is to continue with his illustrious work.”
Besides President Robert Mugabe, other Heads of State who attended the late President Sata’s burial include Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza, Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba and Madagascar’s Hery Rajaonarimampianina.
Vice Presidents’ from the region present included Gambia’s Isatou Njie-Saidy, Tanzania’s Mohammed Bilal, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Malawi’s Saulos Chilima, while Uganda and Swaziland were represented by their Prime Ministers, Ruhakana Ruganda and Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini respectively.
Also present were former Presidents’ namely Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Botswana’s Festus Mogae and Namibia’s first President Sam Nujoma.
The African Union (AU) Commission was represented by Chairperson Nkosazana Dhlamini Zuma.
President Sata is survived by his wife Dr Christine Mwelwa Kaseba and nine children.