REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
REMARKS BY
HIS EXCELLENCY DR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA DURING THE CHURCH SERVICE FOR THE
LATE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, DR. KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA
HELD AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY CROSS, LUSAKA
STATE HOUSE LUSAKA
WEDNESDAY, 7TH JULY, 2021
- THE KAUNDA FAMILY;
- YOUR EXCELLENCY MR. RUPIAH BWEZANI BANDA, FOURTH
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
- YOUR EXCELLENCY, MR JOACHIM CHISSANO, SECOND
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE;
- FORMER VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
- YOUR LORDSHIP JUSTICE MICHAEL MUSONDA, SC,
ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE;
- HONOURABLE DR. PATRICK MATIBINI, SC, SPEAKER OF THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY;
- DR. SIMON K. MITI, SECRETARY TO THE CABINET;
- FORMER CABINET MINISTERS;
- LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES;
- MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS;
- SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS;
- YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES;
- MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY;
- MEMBERS OF THE PRESS;
- FELLOW MOURNERS.
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WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF A VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY – THE PASSING ON AND SUBSEQUENT MOURNING PERIOD FOR HIS EXCELLENCY, DR KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA. BUT I MUST HASTEN TO SAY THAT WE SHALL FOREVER CELEBRATE DR KAUNDA’S LIFE. THE STORY OF DR KAUNDA WILL BE ETCHED IN OUR HISTORY AND WILL BE TOLD BY GENERATIONS.
TO YOU THE KAUNDA FAMILY, I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE LIVING IN PEACE AND HARMONY. CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE LEGACY OF DR. KAUNDA AND CONTINUE TRUSTING IN GOD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
DURING THE STATE FUNERAL HELD ON FRIDAY, 2ND JULY, 2021, AT THE SHOW GROUNDS, A NUMBER OF PRESIDENTS AND HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES OF WORLD LEADERS AND MULTILATERAL ORGANISATIONS, CAME TO MOURN WITH US IN APPRECIATION OF THE WORKS OF OUR HERO, DR. KAUNDA. WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR GESTURE AND APPRECIATION.
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A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL THE COUNTRIES AND THEIR PEOPLES WHO DECLARED DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURNING IN HONOUR AND MEMORY OF DR. KENNETH KAUNDA. WE HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO RECEIVE MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE THANK THESE COUNTRIES AND LEADERS MOURNING WITH US.
FELLOW MOURNERS,
I AM AWARE THAT MANY OF YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO TURN UP IN NUMBERS TO BID FAREWELL TO OUR FOUNDING FATHER, BUT YOU HEED THE ADVICE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEEDINGS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AND OTHER MEDIA PLATFORMS. IN ADDITION, YOU HELPED GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE THE FUNERAL PROGRAMME IN A MANNER THAT ENHANCED OUR ADHERENCE TO THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES. I THANK YOU MOST SINCERELY.
FELLOW MOURNERS,
LET ME COMMEND CABINET OFFICE FOR METICULOUSLY COORDINATING VARIOUS EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE NATIONAL MOURNING PERIOD.
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I ALSO COMMEND THE DEFENCE FORCE, AS THEIR COMMANDER IN CHIEF, FOR THE JOB WELL DONE DURING THE MOVING OF DR KAUNDA’S BODY TO ALL PROVINCES OF OUR COUNTRY; AND THEIR PARADE DURING THE STATE FUNERAL. YOUR COMMITMENT AND PROFESSIONALISM WAS EXCEPTIONAL. LET ME ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE MEDIA, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, FOR BRINGING ALL PROCEEDINGS INTO OUR HOMES; ESPECIALLY FOR REFRESHING OUR MEMORIES OF DR KAUNDA WITH ARCHIVE MATERIAL.
FELLOW MOURNERS,
- KAUNDA WAS A TRUE CHAMPION OF LOVE AND UNITY. HE STRONGLY BELIEVED IN HARD WORK AND DISCIPLINE. HE WAS AN EPITOME OF SELFLESS SERVICE AND PATRIOTISM. I URGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO EMULATE THE CHARACTER AND GOOD WORKS OF DR. KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA. LET US ALL EMULATE HIM BY BEING PATRIOTIC. AND BY THIS, I MEAN WE SHOULD ALL LOVE OUR COUNTRY ZAMBIA. DESPISING YOUR COUNTRY EACH DAY IS NOT PATRIOTISM. PATRIOTISM MEANS DOING WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOUR COUNTRY.
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PATRIOTISM MEANS MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELL BEING OF YOUR COUNTRY. PATRIOTISM MEANS SPEAKING WELL OF YOUR COUNTRY. BY DOING SO, WE WILL MAKE ZAMBIA A BETTER NATION.
COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN,
OVER THE YEARS, WE SOMEHOW LOST TWO STANZAS OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM. I DON’T KNOW WHETHER THIS WAS BY DESIGN OR OUT OF CONVENIENCE. BUT UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, THESE STANZAS, AFRICA IS OUR OWN MOTHERLAND… AND ONE LAND AND ONE NATION IS OUR CRY…HAVE BEEN REINSTATED OWING TO THE FACT THAT THE MESSAGE IN THOSE STANZAS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO OUR UNITY AS A NATION. AND IT SHALL BE LIKE THAT GOING FORWARDS.
WE SHALL ALSO UPHOLD THE MOTTO OF “ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION” IN ALL WE DO. THIS MOTTO SHOULD BE AN EMBODIMENT OF WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT NATION, ZAMBIA.
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WE ARE A UNITED PEOPLE, DESPITE OUR MANY TRIBES, DIALECTS, AND HERITAGE, AND NOTHING AND NOBODY SHOULD DIVIDE US. AND THAT IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO HONOUR DR. KAUNDA’S LEGACY.
TO THIS EFFECT, FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, I NOW DECLARE APRIL 28TH, THE BIRTHDAY OF HIS EXCELLENCY, DR KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA, A NATIONAL DAY, IN HIS HONOUR.
ONE ZAMBIA… ONE NATION; ONE ZAMBIA… ONE NATION.
FAREWELL DR KAUNDA; GO WELL; YOU RAN A GREAT RACE.
MAY THE SOUL OF HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. KENNETH DAVID BUCHIZYA KAUNDA REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.
I THANK YOU.
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