Zambia: ‘FTJ Was True Christian’

28 June 2011

BIBLE Gospel Outreach Church in Africa overseer Peter Ndhlovu has said late president Frederick Chiluba was a true Christian who was not swayed from his decisions easily.

In his sermon to mourners at a funeral service for the late second president of Zambia at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Bishop Ndhlovu said Dr Chiluba suffered a deep level of criticism and opposition to his rule but never went back on his decisions.

He said Dr Chiluba loved the gospel, was a true born-again Christian and that it was wrong to judge him by his past because God judged people by one’s present.

Bishop Ndhlovu said Dr Chiluba’s declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation would stand and that he was happy that the former president left behind a good name for himself.

“He loved this nation and was committed to the cause of the nation. He was a genuine born-again Christian and I am a proud pastor,” he said.

Bishop Ndhlovu further described the late former Head of State as a hero who would be missed by many Zambians he served during his 10 years as Republican president.

He said Dr Chiluba was not ashamed of what people said about him as long as what he was doing was aimed at serving the people.

He said Dr Chiluba could have made mistakes like any other human being but that it should not be the reason to demonise him.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Dr Chiluba was an icon of democracy in Africa.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the Church service, Mr Tsvangirai said Dr Chiluba contributed a lot to the democratic dispensation that Zambia was currently enjoying.

“It was not easy those days of the one-party State to liberalise the economy but Dr Chiluba made it possible for Zambians when he won the elections as a democratically elected president in 1991 and all because of his determination he had as a trade unionist,” he said.

During the service, many speakers outlined the achievements of the former president who died on Saturday, June 18, at his residence in Kabulonga area in Lusaka.

Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa said Dr Chiluba led the privatisation process that was responsible for the current economic growth of the country.

He said Dr Chiluba also brought about the housing empowerment programme which allowed many Zambians who occupied Government houses to buy them and some had used them as collateral to access loans for their economic activities.

Former Home Affairs minister under the Chiluba administration Peter Machungwa recounted the fruitful meeting with Dr Chiluba hours before he died.

He said during his last meeting with Dr Chiluba, the former leader spoke about issues that were useful to him and other people who were present.

Dr Machungwa said among the tough decisions Dr Chiluba made were to liberalise the foreign exchange which made foreign investors externalise their wealth and that many feared that the country’s economy would crumble but that the late president remained steadfast.

He said there were many times when Dr Chiluba made financial contributions to the needy without the knowledge of anyone, which showed his true love for humanity.

Independent Churches of Zambia president David Masupa urged opposition political parties to see the need for reconciliation.

The Church service was also attended by Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, his governor for Katanga Province Moses Katumbi, Zimbabwean Vice-President Joyce Mujuru, Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa.

Others were former president Kenneth Kaunda, Vice-President George Kunda, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Senior Chief Mwata Kezembe and the late president’s family members from Luapula Province.

AllAfrica – All the Time