Former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa has thanked government and the people of Zambia for burying her husband in a dignified manner last year.
Mrs. Mwanawasa has also thanked Zambians for the support rendered to her and her family since the bereavement a year ago.
She was speaking in Lusaka on Wednesday during a memorial service for her late husband.
She described the late Dr. Mwanawasa as a man who had a passion for programmes aimed at improving the living standards of people.
Mrs. Mwanawasa said her husband hated corruption so much that at one point he even warned family members that he would not protect them if they are arrested for graft.
She also paid tribute to those that worked with President Mwanawasa saying his success can not be attributed to him alone.
Dr. Mwanawasa died at Percy military hospital in Paris, France, on August 19 last year after he suffered a stroke while attending an African Union summit in Egypt.
And President Rupiah Banda led hundreds of people at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross for a memorial service in honour of the late President.
The service was attended by several dignitaries, who included leaders of opposition parties and diplomats accredited to Zambia.[quote]
This was followed by the unveiling of the tomb stone at the Embassy Park in Lusaka where President Mwanawasa’s body is laying.
Speaking during the church service, President Banda declared the late Dr. Mwanawasa’s tomb as a national heritage.
The President also urged people to refrain from making comments that tend to question President Mwanawasa’s legacy.
President Banda said it is because of his legacy that his words still inspire public debate and his ideas particularly on corruption reflect on politics today.
He urged the nation to emulate the late President Mwanawasa’s ability to rise above personal differences and avoiding antagonism for the sake of unity.
President Mwanawasa is remembered for his tough stance against corruption.
[ZNBC]
This means that in less than a year of Rupiahs mismanagement Chiluba has already been acquitted.
Lesa twafwe fwe bana bobe.
May his soul rest in peace. He was a great man and greater than Chiluba.
The problems the country is going was caursed by Mwanawasa by appointing RB
The late didnt know that R.B would become president!
Mr President are you tough on corruption? Are you building on Mwanawasa’s legacy? I do not think so. Your openly support the release of a thief and a murderer. Please learn when to shut up .Sometimes silence speaks more words than a stupid press comments RB.
May the souls of all the unamed poor people who are not important enough to be recognized and have died due to Government mismanagment rest in peace until Yom HaDin.
Is it ba maureen in the picture ma but bayonda
ZAMBIANS ARE A VERY INTERESTING SPICE!!! AT WHAT POINT DID LEVY BECOME SO MUCH OF AN ICON TO ALMOST OVERSHADOW PRESIDENTS LIKE KIKWETE, YOWERI, MANDELA AND KHAMA? – THE MAN GOT TO THAT OFFICE FRAUDULENTLY (CHILUBA & VJ ARE MY WITNESESSES) TO START WITH AND HE WAS VERY ARROGANT THROUGH AND THROUGH…SEE HOW HE LED THE NATION INTO UNNECESSARY SPENDING ON THE CONSTITUTION, THE USELESS INDABAS, USELESS TRIPS TO THE FAR EAST, AND HOW HE CORRUPTLY/UNCONSTITUTIONALLY APPOINTED NEVERS, MASEBO, DIPAK, NYIRONGO, SAMUKONGA ETC. IF CHILUBA DIES TOMORROW, ALL ZAMBIANS WILL GATHER AGAIN TO MOURN THE GREAT LEADER….I PERSONALLY DIDNT SEE ANYTHING GREAT ABOUT LEVY…HE WAS A DISGRACE, A CHASER AND A LET DOWN…PERIOD!!!
Iwe, that’s a child . Do you even know Maureen?
The order of thanks should have been; thank the nation/people then the government, not the other way round. It simply shows the contempt these ‘leaders’ have on the people of z
This confirms to me that when a person dies people do not want to talk about the bad things he did.Why is everyone not talking about things that #8 has alluded.gentlemen lets not mislead our future generations as though was great.I still desire to be convinced as to whether this man has ever been a great leader or not becoz for sure i have not seen any single good thing that did for this nation.heeyy convince me!
honestly its sad he is gone but he was over showered with praise and this whole thing is such un expensive venture, na ilele expenditure…taxpayers.. How is TETA??
she conveniently mentioned how her husband worked against corruption in light of Chiluba’s acquittal…lol, RIP LPM, I can’t believe it has already been a year. Time flies!
its good to be thankful, its good tha bignose is carryin on the legacy.*******k that
Thank you President Banda for handling the illness, death and burial of Levy so well and dignified. Those are truly the marks of a great leader.
On this “Mrs. Mwanawasa said her husband hated corruption so much that at one point he even warned family members that he would not protect them if they are arrested for graft. She also paid tribute to those that worked with President Mwanawasa saying his success can not be attributed to him alone.“, I am with dead President first lady Maureen Mwanawasa (LLB?, MBA, Honourary Doctorater holder) especially where she has mentioned that the success of late Mr (former Zambian) President LP Mwanawasa is also attributed to others especially Mr FTJ Chiluba who woke him up at night to give him the Zambian President through selections and Mr MP Magande N.P. who maintained fiscal discipline that saw Zambia change for the better. Be blessed all.
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Matthew 6:33
On “Mrs. Mwanawasa said her husband hated corruption so much that at one point he even warned family members that he would not protect them if they are arrested for graft“, that was good but why are Zambians in Zambia especially Mr President RB Banda failing to take the Mwanawasa family member Maureen Mwanawasa who made this statement following the implications of corruption that came to light in the Dora Siliya Zamtel saga tribunal proceedings? Is it because Mr President RB Banda is not willing to see corruption reduce and subsequently end in Zambia? Is it because Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa may have appointed Mr President RB Banda as then Vice President? Is it that Mr President doesn’t want to question the Mwanawasa legacy as indicated above? Be blest all.
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Matthew 6:33
Too much comedy pa zed # 8 bamene batoba walasa u have hit the nail on the head, this Mwanawasa he lead us in all this problems by giving the people of zambia Incompetant president RB. Even Mwanawasa him self was not a legitemate leader he came back into politics through a back door. He pumped much money in the fight against corruption and unfortunately no positve results coming out of his legacy of fighting corruption, much money in constitution review among other things he left behind but still no benefits for majority and undermined zambians. As per tradition we respect your death rest in peace ,u did your part.
TILL ZAMBIAN BECAME ANOTHER ZIMBABWE OR IRAQ THAT’S IS WHEN OUR PEOPLE WILL LEARN. PASTORS ARE WORSE THAN ANYTHING IN ZAMBIA WATCH OUT THEIR ARE THEY TO ROB THEIR FLOCK JUST LIKE NEVERS MUMBA DID.
Maureen, stop using JARIBU, lose some weight and move on!
On “The President also urged people to refrain from making comments that tend to question President Mwanawasa’s legacy, what is this Mwanawasa legacy anyway? Some of us will continue to use truth as opposed to appeasing characters who think they are important while they are good for nothing — in the words of late Mr President Levy P. Mwanawasa himself.
Another point to note is the excitement by the pentecostal churches over the Mr FTJ Chiluba acquittal thing and the Catholic Church’s genocide issue by the MMD GRZ through Minister Shikapwasha. I am watching who will manage to put into power a President of Zambia after the 2011 elections among these groups following Minister Shikapwasha’s data about the Catholic church’s strategy.
As we move, lets think.
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Matt…
RB are you following Levy’s legacy of fighting corruption?Why did Levy go to pick this retiree kanshi??
Have you guys read the post. Maureen Mwanawasa refused to shake hands with Chief Govt spokesman Shiapwasha. By the way we can finally read the post free.
I quote “She was seen shaking hands with several people, but when Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s turn came, the former first lady did not extend her hand.
Instead Maureen stretched both hands down and gave a smile to Lt Gen Shikapwasha.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha smiled back and walked away.
The incident attracted the attention of several onlookers who wondered what could have been the reason behind Maureen’s action.” LOL
We Zambians have short memory. Mourn your relatives let levy’s relatives mourn him. Levy didn’t give a shit about your poor relatives. Levy’s legacy my ***. What corruption did Levy fight? Levy was the beneficiary of corruption.
Yes Levy held a tough stance against corruption, unlike some of these monkeys at state house.
I guess it is written, ” Thou shall NOT judge”.
As long as you don’t improve the living standard of the masses I will not hero worship you dead or alive. I judge your sorry ass.
The ills of Levy’s legacy
Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda (RB) was elected president of Zambia on the 30th of October 2008 taking over the reign of power from his late predecessor, Dr. Levy Mwanawasa, who passed away after a stroke whilst attending an AU summit in Egypt. RB fought factions within the party to emerge victorious and stood on the ruling party ticket for the presidency of Zambia. The leading free press newspaper, The Post, embarked on a slander campaign to discredit RB and they accused him of being corrupt, passive and without vision. The opposition took advantage of this situation and marketed themselves as the only option to replace the late president.
Rupiah did not realize how difficult taking over where Levy left off was going to be when he was sworn in on the 2nd of November 2008.
Nine and a half months later, RB has shown that he can continue with change where his predecessor left off but, as promised in the 2008 campaign. Never-the-less, RB has had to deal with tumultuous situations that have arisen as a result of the rule of his predecessor.
When he was appointed vice president on the 10th of October 2006, RB found himself in the middle of a fight against corruption which is targeted at the former leader, Dr. Chiluba and his colleagues in the ruling party. This fight was systematically tailored to investigate and prosecute only the 10 years of rule by Dr. Chiluba. It started with the stripping of his immunity by parliament and the consequent prosecution of cases where only selective top officials in the ruling party were targeted. Seven years later, a lot of these cases are still in court whilst a few have been disposed and the erring government officials implicated have been jailed. Furthermore, several senior military officers have been investigated for corruption and have been found guilty, and some are even serving time…
Furthermore, several senior military officers have been investigated for corruption and have been found guilty, and some are even serving time in prison for their offences.
Dr, Chiluba has claimed that the late president was vindictive and overly reactional to the threat of political division within the ruling party. He has stated that the late president’s fight against corruption ignored existing investigative bodies and was channelled through a state house task force created to give the leader absolute power over the investigation, prosecution and judgement. He stated that the task force was an illegal body which was created to allow the president to abuse the justice system in order to settle scores with those who oppose his ideas.
Chiluba further stated that he would not receive a fair trial if the prosecution was being driven by the most powerful person in Zambia at state house.
On the 17th of August 2009, Dr. Chiluba was acquitted of fraud and theft of US$500,000 in a judgement he considered free and fair. He thanked God for allowing justice to prevail and is now looking into the restoration of his immunity by parliament. In 2006, it was alleged that the opposition would pardon him for all offences once they were elected to office and in turn, Dr. Chiluba threw his support the opposition way as he campaigned in his stronghold of the Northern provinces of Zambia.
RB found himself in another predicament earlier this year when reports of corruption at the Ministry of Health showed that over K200 billion in tax payers money was systematically siphoned out of the institution by an organized civil service clique. The late president’s personal physician was implicated in these crimes as chief executive officer (Permanent Secretary) of the ministry and he wrote a letter to RB begging for leniency and forgiveness when dealing with this issue. The letter was leaked to the press and the case was investigated by the legally constituted Anti Corruption Commission which brought the culprits to book.
The investigations show that the theft of public funds goes back to 2006 when the late president failed to discipline his personal physician, and chief executive officer of the ministry, who threatened and chased away government auditors who were scheduled to audit the financial accounts of the ministry.
Then RB was faced with a rebellion within the party as those loyal to the late president accused him of failing to continue with the legacy. They claimed that RB was surrounded by bootlickers whose intentions are to remove all of the late presidents’ remnants from the party and create a new ruling clique of their own. These rebellious members were known to be very close to the late president, and some were even related to him, but they did not share a similar relationship with the…
but they did not share a similar relationship with the current leader. They began to question RB’s integrity in the free press and disobeyed party orders to channel grievances through clearly laid down party processes.
RB dishonourably discharged the two most vocal rebellious members from government and the party, who were also directly related to the late president and were suspected of being brought into politics through nepotism. These members immediately challenged their expulsion in the high court when they realized that RB had the support of the grass roots in the constituencies they represent. This means that they stood no chance at winning a by-election against the ruling MMD in their constituencies.
They have since chosen to rally behind the president and his intention to contest the 2011 general election.
Finally RB was met with hostility from the late presidents’ wife over his presidency of the party. She insisted that the former finance minister, Magande, was the chosen successor of the president. Magande also insisted that he was a better candidate as he was destined to continue with the late presidents legacy despite the party’s executive overwhelmingly picking RB as the successor.
RB ignored these utterances and stated only once that the country was not a monarchy and that he was delighted that the party’s executive was ready to work with him in bringing development to Zambia. He stressed that the party was headed by an executive committee whose role is also to…
He stressed that the party was headed by an executive committee whose role is also to preside over who leads the party.
Shortly after, Magande decided to start campaigning for the party presidency in next year’s scheduled party convention. Thereafter, the MMD executive committee members held a meeting and resolved that RB should stand on the party’s ticket in the 2011 general election and that he should go unchallenged during the party’s convention next year. This brought about controversy as some members of the party with presidential ambitions felt the party executive committee was depriving them from a democratic system of elections to party presidency.
Waste of tax-payers money.
The late president froze the position of party vice president from being contested during the last party convention because of the intense campaign between opponents. The late president’s preferred candidate was being overshadowed by the other contestants and his ability to win the position was diminishing with every day that the convention drew closer.
RB responded by stating that unlike what happened in the last party convention, he saw no reason why other party members should be restricted from trying their luck at the upcoming convention. He stated that whilst the party constitution allows the executive committee to freeze elections of certain positions, he was ready to be challenged at the convention in order to be democratically elected and receive the support of the party…
he was ready to be challenged at the convention in order to be democratically elected and receive the support of the party majority.
Recently, a parliamentary committee was given a report by the defunct Zambia National Oil Company chief executive of 2001 who showed the late presidents involvement in oil stock trading and the deliberate closure of ZNOC in order to conceal irregularities in its dealings. This report indicates that during the rule of the late president, he was directly involved in a cover-up of millions of dollars and that contracts signed with oil suppliers were dubious.
This allegation brings to light the reasons behind the Zambian government losing the case held in South Africa where ABSA Bank have sued our government. Our government has been ordered to pay ABSA Bank US$80 million as the bank was legally commissioned to finance crude oil supply to Zambia.
Whilst the former energy minister, Mr. Mpombo, did not state whether he was aware of these dealings and consequent legal battles, the Zambian government did not attempt to defend itself and the court ruled in absentia in favour of ABSA Bank. Mr. Mpombo has since resigned and decided to give up both his ministerial appointment and his ruling party executive position.
We can see from these few events that have taken place during the last nine and a half months that RB has had to find a way to continue with the legacy left by his predecessor without perpetrating the ills of this legacy. By the time RB is done getting things right, I wonder how much of a legacy will be left for RB’s MMD to continue with. We have left out other controversial issues from Levy’s seven year rule like the purchase of 100 hearses for rural areas and the decision to procure mobile hospitals which was initiated and concluded before his death.
The more that is exposed about the decisions made during Levy’s rule, the more this legacy is exposed for what it truly is.
Today marks one year since Levy was announced dead and the debate of his legacy remains hot in all political circles yet many wish to call for a national suspension to this discussion.
“Levy deeply despised corruption and opportunism, says Maureen” Quote
Is she sure?????
Has Maureen Kabuko forgotten that Mwanawasa used opportunism and stolen money to be given the nomination and Presidency by the MMD match makers? Has she forgotten that Kashiba Bulaya in jail and Sokoni’s letter were underpins to Mwanawasa’s institutional corruption? Has she forgotten how DPP Mukelabai Mukelabai died mysteriously in a South African Hotel but instead his two brothers one being Harry Mwanawasa bore the sins?
What of Mapushi from a Kabwe rural primary school teacher to Home Affairs minister who withered in a brand new VX on a straight road? What of Masebo whose cross over from Ben Mwila’s party took a white car delivery and cash to help destabilize the opposition? Was that hatred for opportunism or her ignorance dictates that recruiters and bridge builders are all dead with Mwanawasa too hence chance for image building? What of Senegalese Isa Galledou’s grabbed assets all personalized then deported while UNZA land holds his property?
Let Silver Masebo challenge Zambians that she has not been a mole on payroll against the opposition from as early as 1999 until Levy used her.Her reports are very much secured for the achieve.
# 23 Bauze ,
Maureen has only proved childish and bitter widow.That action will not reverse or make General Shikapwasha lose anything.Levy she abused through her promiscuity and staffing government with her family tree is no more and doing so will not bring him back.He is gone with his sins.Look at what she did to Sata in chipata did it reverse her tragedy? The who circus leaves her more hurt and classified as childish.
There go the Zambians again! We can’t shut our pie-holes, commenting on everything and anything. Ba LT, remove the comments mwe, they depress me.
RIP Dr Mwanawasa!!!! People I had a dream – Zambia was prosperous again, no one was going to bed on an empty stomach, no one was surviving on one meal a day. Families were happy because most people had jobs, good paying jobs. Children were ever happy, they all went to school with lunch boxes full of good food and drinks. Children enjoyed school because teachers enjoyed their work, no teacher went on strike, and they were paid on time and handsomely. There was no Anti Corruption Commission because there was no corruption anyway. There was no task force, leaders and public servants didn’t steal public funds, they were content with what they earned, and they had no selfish interests. The roads everywhere were well done- tarred. People had never seen pot holes. There were no power outages.
There was no NCC, because the constitution was already developed after the Mungomba commission. MPs never got midterm gratuities; instead they were hard working and were well known in their constituencies even by small children-third graders. No one was dying from preventable diseases, hospitals had all the essential medicines, health workers never went on strikes, no one gave birth on the street or police cells. Journalists were not beaten or harassed for reporting the truth. The ruling party and the opposition coexisted and addressed real developmental issues in their articulation. All ministers issued well thought out statements addressing real issues affecting the people.
Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora enjoyed coming home to see with their own eyes the good things happening in Zambia. They boasted to talk about their country among their colleagues abroad and oversee. Our soccer team was a force to reckon with in Africa again.We all sung the national anthem with pride… This is where my dream ended last night. I tried hard to sleep again so that I can continue to dream.
Wonderful speech from a wonderful lady. i I just loved the flow of he speech and how it unfolded before hitting the apex just at the right time and note. You truly were the wife of a great man Maureen and i know you have your own weaknesses but thats just what makes us human. Get yourself into parliament, we would want to see more of what you have. SPLENDID!!
Rupiah Banda will one day be held accountable for all this mess in the country. He is refusing to listen to the crying voices of the peolpe. H e has a tight grip on the judiciary and sings praises to convicted plunderers. Your time is nearly over and soon you will have some explaining to do. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Watch out!
Ok Twaumfya! What’s next? Any GRZ official flown to SA? Any Monkeys urinating? Can somebody steal something please, because I am getting bored here
What r we Zabians going 2 do about this stupid tendency of appointing a Veep and having a simple majority President in State House, wouldn’t it be better if we pressure GRZ to have a a new Constitution thats calls 4 50 + 1 and Veep should be a Running Mate otherwise we will continue people being woken up and dragged from the groundnut fields to be Presidents without much ado. We seem to be overshadowed by criticism than look at the root cause of this malaise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes #54 you are darn rite. by the way legacy my foot. what legacy … continued poverty is the legacy you are talking about.
I guess Kafupi can now run 100m and challenge Usain Bolt despite faking a heart problem for the past years. It the poor people on this continent who are being let down by politicians. Imagine all those suits and shoes Kafupi brags of having, and a family in rural parts of the country have no access to clean water.Just a borehole could help a village of about 30 people.But yeah this is africa, another corrupt politician has just become the [resident of the most powerful nation on the continent, and yes this is still africa.
I really dont see this so-called ‘legacy’ Maybe its the legacy of filling up ZESCO, Foreign Service with his relatives of the so-called “Family Tree”. Other than this there is noting else to refer to. LPMs refusal to have a vice-MMD Presido showed how selfish the bally was. His ZNOC involvement clearly shows that the man was also a THIEF ( Like Chiluba, Mabenga etc). Maureen should just be thankful for the Billions she has stashed in Alliance Bank period. Legacy, my foot !
Hey Zambians, lets just leave our lives and move on. Nomatter how much we complain nothing will ever change.
RB & taem are markets. They have scored another political milestone they are praising Levy in grave whilst on the other hand they are doing something else. The Mwanawasa Legacy was burried with him at Embassy Park. Dont expect RB to follow in the footsteps of Levy. The man has his own style of leadrship. AS for Maureen yes we are encouraged by your appreciation of Zambians love for Levy and support being rendered to her by GRZ. Its not by chance but a well deserved reward. By the way is the former !st lady still residing at Chimbombamilimo’s loadge or has moved some where else. She should consider joing politics to that she can show case her behind the scenes monouvers during her husband’s regime. What happened it appears Ronnie was snubed by Maureen during Memorial service at COHC