Zambia: Paying Tribute to Dr Frederick Chiluba

28 June 2011

editorial

THE tributes that have poured in since the passing of second president of Zambia Dr Frederick Chiluba testify, first, to the fact that his life touched millions of Zambians in positive ways.

Especially notable over the last seven days have been the emotional tributes of ordinary people across Zambia, whose lives Dr Chiluba impacted through the policies and programmes he pushed through.

These tributes were a poignant reminder of the inherent nobility of politics that have people’s welfare as the focus. Now in retrospect, it has been realised that Dr Chiluba was motivated by a desire to bring tangible benefits in critical areas of daily life – especially housing and public transport.

Dr Chiluba also inspired people with his personal history, that spoke of an ordinary person who broke the barriers and disadvantages of childhood to rise, through hard work, to the pinnacle of the nation as an inspirational leader.

But perhaps even more significant is the fact that Dr Chiluba’s life is clear testimony that he lived his convictions. He acted out these convictions in unmistakable ways.

Nowhere did he demonstrate this better than in the two major landmark undertakings of his presidency.

Where other heads of State or government choose to be closet Christians, in order not to infringe traditional politicalsensibilities, Dr Chiluba not only practiced his beliefs in private life, but declared Zambia a Christian Nation, and openly professed the lordship of Jesus Christ.

It is now an undeniable fact that it was his tenacity in holding to his convictions that laid the foundation for the transformation that has resulted in Zambia’s current economic gains.

At the time his party and Government colleagues were knuckling under the pressure of the impact of the structural adjustment programme (SAP) on the Zambian people, he openly declared he “kissed SAP”.

Today, even those who derided him for making this statement confirm that where many looked at what was politically expedient then, Dr Chiluba had the foresight to see that SAP had to be endured to create conditions for a better economic structure, and future growth.

Today, President Rupiah Banda is building on that foundation, and Zambians are experiencing the positive legacy of Dr Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba – a true visionary leader.

AllAfrica – All the Time