Chiluba Leaves Pan-Africanist Legacy – Mkapa

28 June 2011

FORMER Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa has described late president Frederick Chiluba as a true Pan-Africanist who will be remembered for the role he played in restoring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola.

Mr Mkapa, who was in the country to attend the burial of Zambia’s second president, said Dr Chiluba should be remembered for the good things and legacy he had left for the country, region and the continent as a whole.

Speaking on behalf of the foreign dignitaries who attended the burial, Mr Mkapa said in pursuit of good neighbourliness, Dr Chiluba was a peace-maker who helped restore peace to the then war-ravaged Angola and the former Zaire, which is now DRC.

He said the works of the late president had touched many lives beyond the Zambian borders.

Mr Mkapa said he worked with Dr Chiluba when he was president of his country and enjoyed a good relationship with him.

He said Dr Chiluba was a strong defender of the independence of the African continent.

Mr Mkapa said the late Zambian leader was an advocate of justice and fairness.

He said together with the late president, bilateral relations between Zambia and Tanzania were enhanced, especially with regard to the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority and TAZAMA pipe line.

“On this very sad occasion I bring with me His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete and the people of SADC (Southern African Development Community) region our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the president and the people of Zambia on the death of this illustrious son of Africa.

“No man is an island and no man is perfect, he may have made mistakes but we should not remember them with anger,” he said.

He said the people of Tanzania and the SADC region in general were mourning the death of Dr Chiluba.

Mr Mkapa was among several dignitaries who attended the burial of Dr Chiluba, who was put to rest at Embassy Park.

Others were DRC President Joseph Kabila, Zimbabwean Vice-President Joyce Mujuru and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Others were Katanga Province Governor Moses Katumbi and several other special envoys from within the region and beyond.

AllAfrica – All the Time