HH Invites President Lungu To RB’s State Funeral
President Hakainde Hichilema has invited his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, to the state funeral for the late former president Rupiah Banda.
Speaking during a visit to Mr Banda’s bereaved family in Lilayi on Sunday, President Hichilema said it was important for him and Mr Lungu to show unity and mourn together.
“I spoke to President ECL, asking him that we should, must all mourn our former president together. I wanted to confirm this publicly here, and I asked the team to be briefing President Lungu of what is going on, what the plans, so that we give due respect and honour to President Rupiah Banda,” he said.
President Hichilema had visited Mr Banda only a few days prior to his death. Yesterday, he paid tribute to the late president and thanked him for his invaluable advice.
“It’s a pity that I’m here only a few days away after I was here chatting with him, chatting with him encouraging him, drawing advice and counsel from him,” he lamented.
President Banda passed away passed away at his home on Friday. On Saturday, the government announced that a seven-day period of mourning would be observed to pay respect to the former head of state.
A state funeral will be held at the Lusaka showgrounds at 10 o’clock on Thursday 17th March. On Friday, Mr Banda will be laid to rest in the Presidential Burial Site in Lusaka.
Last week, Mr Banda’s colleague and friend Vernon Johnson Mwaanga led tributes to the late president. In his eulogy, the former diplomat praised Mr Banda as a great statesman and loyal friend.
“Zambia has lost one of its greatest sons, at a time when his vast experience and knowledge were most needed. We traversed the world promoting and defending Zambia and Afirca at large. His passing will leave a vacuum in my heart, which I will live with for the rest of my life,” he said.
President Hichilema joined in the testaments, honouring Mr Banda as part of “a generation of highly motivated and selfless youths whose interest was service to country and its people”.