President Banda bids farewell to late Milanzi MP
09 Feb 2010
By Times ReporterPRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday led hundreds of mourners in paying their last respects to MMD Milanzi Member of Parliament (MP) Reuben Chisanga-Banda who died in Lusaka on Thursday.
Burial took place at Kawaza Village in Milanzi Constituency in Katete.
President Banda, who was accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe Banda, said the death of Mr Banda was a big blow to the ruling party and the nation.
He said it was sad that the constituency had lost two MPs within two years.
The late MP was voted into office in June 2008 after the death of Chosani Njobvu, a UNIP member, who died while on parliamentary duties in Europe.
The president said the death of Mr Banda brought sad memories to his political career because it reminded him of his late mother, Sara Zulu, and late president Levy Mwanawasa.
“This makes this burial very painful, it brings a lot of sad memories. It reminds me of my late mother who was buried the same day when the late Mr Banda won the Milanzi Constituency parliamentary by-election.
“It was the last time I spoke to president Mwanawasa before he took off for Egypt where he collapsed and later died in France,” he said.
Mr Banda advised the people of Milanzi Constituency to remain calm and work together until the Electoral Commission of Zambia announces the date for the by-election.
Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi said he was saddened by the untimely death of the MP.
He said Mr Banda did not have enough time to implement some development projects in his constituency.
The traditional ruler, who was represented by his special induna Chikuta Mbewe, said it was sad that the people of Milanzi would have to go to the polls again.
Parliamentary deputy chief whip Humphrey Mwanza said the House would miss the mature contributions to debates from the late Mr Banda.
Mr Mwanza, who led a delegation of MPs, said Mr Banda served on several committees in Parliament that included national security, foreign affairs and public accounts committee.
MMD national chairperson, Micheal Mabenga said the ruling party had once again been disadvantaged by the death of Mr Banda, who was also MMD Eastern Province provincial secretary.
The late MP is survived by a wife, Mary and five children.
Meanwhile, the president returned to Lusaka yesterday after attending the burial of Mr Banda.
The president who arrived at City Airport at 17:50 hours was accompanied by the First Lady, Thandiwe and some Cabinet ministers.
[Times of Zambia]
