Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Subscribe
Headlines

President Banda leads hundreds at late Tetamashimba’s church service

By editor
125
10,066 views

Share

President Banda viewing the body of late Benny Tetamashimba after a requiem mass in Lusaka
President Banda viewing the body of late Benny Tetamashimba after a requiem mass in Lusaka

President Rupiah Banda today led hundreds of mourners in paying last respects to the late Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba during a church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

Others who paid their last respects are Frst republican president Kenneth Kaunda, second republican president Dr. Frederick Chiluba, Vice President George Kunda, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango, cabinet ministers, defense chiefs, opposition leaders, members of Parliament, the church and civil society.

And President Banda is tomorrow expected to attend the burial of the late Mr. Tetamashimba who was Solwezi central Member of Parliament.

President Banda in an interview shortly after he viewed the body of Mr Tetamashimba, hailed the Zambian people in the manner they have mourned with government, the MMD party and the bereaved family.

President Banda observed that though Mr Tetamashimba was controversial, he greatly contributed to the nation.

He said Zambia being a democratic nation allows divergent views and he whole heatedly welcomes the description of people on the late Minister.[quote]

“Zambians are great people and I’m touched in the manner and degree of unity exhibited by the people who have come to pay their last respects to the late Mr Tetamashimba. Though he was controversial he stood for what he believed and people are free to describe him in whatever way they like because Zambia is a democratic country. I will miss him greatly because he was a hard working minister and party spokesperson. I will definitely travel to Solwezi tomorrow for the burial of Mr Tetamashimba,” President Banda said.

And during the church session uncle to the late Tetamashimba, Nathan Mulonga said the family and the nation will greatly miss Mr Tetamashimba on the political scene.

Mr Mulonga described his nephew as one of the most active servants of the nation who held various public portfolios, aggressive, forth-right, honest and sincere in life.

Meanwhile, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Executive Director Paul Mususu, delivering an emotional sermon in church under-scored the unity exhibited by Zambians when befallen with tragedy.

Reverend Mususu appealed to Zambians to continue uniting, maintaining peace even beyond funerals when the nation is mourning.

Rev. Mususu pointed out that the spirit of oneness is in line with the declaration of Zambia a Christian nation and also the One Zambia-One Nation motto.

Meanwhile, Mr Tetamashimba’s body has been flown to Solwezi, in the North-western province where it will be buried.

The late Mr Tetamashimba was evacuated to south Africa on August 8, 2009 for specialist treatment before he returned on Tuesday 1st September 2009 and was immediately rushed to the University Teaching Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit were he was admitted until his death on Saturday.

He leaves behind a wife, Ezzie, six children and two grand children.

ZANIS

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

125 COMMENTS

  1. So it has started to clikc in Rupia that TETA was contraversial…He was not contraversail..He was an i d i o ty, Bootlicker, dirty mouth, with self serving interest.. It is shame to call such hogwashers, divisive, megalomiacs to have been important pipo in our democarcy..Teta stepped on alot of democratics rights of others. Rupiah is doing the same and will face same fate. all those who take God’s pipo for granted will go the same way Teta has gone..with shame..and crocodile tears

  2. Why is it that 90% of the news stories are all political, Every time I visit your website I always find MMD related articles. Most of these stories are no use to the people of zambia. You give these politicians too much publicity which they don’t even need. Boring boring Boring boring Boring boring Boring boring

  3. The Man was in a hurry to see LPM dead and buried.Now he shall meet him in the spirit world to explain his hurry to have RB enthroned before he had officially died.

  6. Kafikepo Teta kwa Lesa. Wila esha kushimyo mulilo ukowaya, naifwe bene tukakusanga nombaline, uposhepo nabonse abakaya ukokuntu.

  7. Ish..i feel for the guy…ama men in black efyo iliyashi ya pwile…
    MHSRIP!

    over and out..>roger rogerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

  9. So why was he brought back if he was ill? I don’t get it. And what was he suffering from. May his soul rest in peace. May his family find strength during this trying time.

    I often ask my self, is Zambian politics worth dying for?

  10. Actor and television star Charlie Sheen has publicly requested a meeting with President Barack Obama to urge him to reopen the official investigation into 9/11 in light of the fact that the majority of the 9/11 Commission members have now publicly gone on record to express their conviction that the government agreed to lie about the official story.

  11. He was brought back because he had reached a ‘point of no return’. Usually this happens with advanced stages of cancer.

  12. Teta has gone.All the negative comments have been so painful to the family.People learn to forgve and forget..Jesus forgave even the chiefest sinner on the cross.so who are before his presence.Judge not coz you will be judged.Vengence belongs to God our father not man.I hope everyone has sumthing to learn
    shalom shalom

  13. We have forgiven Teta and who are we not to do so…But we shall not forget . He has gone in History as one Cadre who should not be emulated… Big lesson. We cant wait to see the likes of VJ, Mulongoti , Shikapwasha joining the que as well…The death of a cruel King is always met with relief..that of a good kill with grief.. Who are we not to fell reliefed ..

  17. MHSRIP

    And to those posting negative comments, does it really make one feel better to bash a dead person? Why not just be silent if you dont have anything nice to say? Be reminded that YOU are the next one to crossed the valley of death which Teta has just crossed. And you may not cross it as naturally as he did.

  18. Bushe Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Funeral Parlor? Every sinner in government finds their body laying in there? Why not take them to their churches? If they never did go to church, take them from the morgue straight to their burial places. Why mock God when people die? If they want to go to church on their last day on earth, make a requirement for every government official to attend church every Sunday. Sorry bachimpempe, Saturday is work day – Half Day. So only Sunday.

  20. Lesa talekelesha abntu bakwe ukulatukwa chilanshiku. No ill feelings for the people of Solwezi, but you can have your ***** back.

  22. Teta dead in S.A and RB didnt want anything to interupt the ceremony he was about to go to in the eastern province.

    So teta’s death was postponed.

  23. If Teta died of AIDS, which is most likely, the public should be informed so that people, especially the young generation know that this disease does not discriminate (its an equal opportunity employer). When Masuzyo, KK’s son died he admitted he had died of AIDS, so did Nelson Mandela when his grandson died. As long as public figures continue to die ” after a long illness” or are in “stable condition” and die the next day the misconception that only poor people are affected by AIDS will continue.

  24. Dead or alive he is still a maafaka. I wish Chiluba Tight ass Jacob Kafupi could be next to go to hell. Teta is on his way to hell. Thankyou Lord for hearing our prayers. we still ask for more.

  29. Been long since i visited this blog. Its sad for the family of Teta for their lose. May God strengthen them in these trying times. I was never a fan of Teta politically but i have no hatred for the fallen soldier. I didnt know him perosnally but i knew that his ministerial comments were pathetic and dangerous for to the nation. But hey, his gone lets move on as a nation.
    May his soul rest in peace and may the almighty Jehovah God take care of his remaining family.
    This is just a lesson that their so many ways of leaving those offices that some politicians think they will hold forever. Rupiah Banda should learn from this and get his A.S.S to work rather than politicing and aquiting corrupt leaders.

  33. Rev Mususu, if you are really a reverand, why don’t you first preach to Rupiah and tell him not to abuse the Zambian people. Why is it that some of you preachers are ignoring the plight of ordinary Zambians, instead of protecting them from government harrassment? How can you stand by and let the government threaten independent media outlets? Why are you not condemning Rupiah for his plans to postpone the convention? It sounds to me that you are condoning dictatorship, and clearly that stance is not biblical. Jesus would not stand for this nonsense.

  34. Alale…………………….hmmmhm, kushika ninombaline….. Atumbuka akuti ‘Chalo nchinonono’ …..Awemba akuti ‘Icalo lifupa, bakolokotakofye chashala’ …………………….

  36. Sikapwasha should learn to say the truth. Is Teta “recoverying well” as Sikapwasha put it? These people should learn to say the truth.

  37. Teta must be singing the song with the following lyrics: “the day i died is the best day of my life” or at least it is the best day of most Zambians’ lives because kumatwi kwatalala nomba.

  38. The fella was a pain in my a…..Am glad that one dirty mouth has passed on. God pliz get Shikapwasha and Mulongoti soonest.

  39. Anyway let me pretend for once, Teta was a very good and productive man. May his humble and Godly soul rest in peace. We will miss you greatly. Goodbye our humble and hard working minister………………………………………………..
    ……………………………………………………………………………wish he was.

  41. I used to enjoy coming to this site to see what was going on in the country but these days…If you people have nothing better to say it’s best to keep quiet, christians are supposed to be building one another and though ‘we’ never liked mr teta we should at least respect his family regardless of the mistakes he made. We are only human after all and none of us is righteous but we are the first to point a finger and condemn others especially those who are unable to defend themselves. @ this time we should be focusing on comforting and encouraging this man’s family and loved ones, anyway a country isn’t christian simply by politicians saying so. Grow up people I’m sure if you were not hiding behind those fake names you use here most of you wouldn’t have the courage to say what…

  47. Every man must leave a name in which ever way ” Bad or Good”. see you Nteta, may your soul rest in peace.Politicians learn to defend what is the trueth in the eyes of God the almight.
    You can bost today but mind out for tomorrow after your death.” Money or power can’t buy life”

  48. Finally Teta, will be the first one to enjoy a ride in one of his hearses,he wanted to be sending da poor zambians very fast to the graves instead of buying drugs,da Almighty God is very mercifull,ba Teta you can rot and defend yourself in Hell,pass my regards to Pharoah.

  49. dead pipo can’t defend themselves, so better keep ur evil mind away and don’t involve God in such issues. God is gona punish you fools.

  51. some of you bloggers can be so heartless.Its very un zambian to bash someone who is dead. He was a husband and father to someone.. there are people grieving out there and you are wishing him to rot in hell! Come on guys.What goes around comes around. Let he who has never sinned throw the first stone

  55. surely the death of one man means a good beer drink for the other. lets learn to respect the dead. if you cant respect the dead it makes me wonder if you ever respect your PARENTS.

  57. TETA rest in peace. WE WILL REMEMBER YOU AS THE BEST BOOTLICKER AND DOUBLE STANDARD MAN OF ALL TIMES. i hope u wont do the same where ever you are going.

  58. Teta will be greatly missed by friends, enemies and family members too.
    Otherwise Teta will be on record buried on 09.09.09 is this not strange?

  60. There are lessons to be learnt here. Firstly we should not rejoice at ones death because we will all go there one day. And while Teta was in the public eye & subject to a lot of scrutiny, like us he was human and prone to mistakes. I do not think any of you bloggers can say everyone likes you , or you have offended anybody. For those in public life on the otherhand, their actions have a wider outreach and there are more visibie. They therefore need to be more cautious in what they do because the sentiment at your death are a reflection of the life you lead. These also applies to people like blogger 4 , who wish that Teta’s soul rots in hell, that is cheap statement that I dont think even Teta would have said himself, and I dont think its statement you want to be remembered for in your…

  61. #54, #51 rb i am not going to insult you like you are insulting others bloggers whether there doing something wrong or right you are not supposed to insult in order to correct now am correcting you.DONT insult your friend just speak your mind and your view. repent. If you are remorseful then Christ will have mercy on you.

  62. When some one is dead, people will talk good things….but its not the case with Teta…..this just shows how bad he was. this should be a lesson to Mulongoti.

  63. remembered for in your deathbed. Please note I was never his fan but just someone trying to reflect on his death

  69. PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY. SOME EVEN LIE IN STINKING MORTUARIES . SO YOU CHAPS TALKING ABOUT DIGNITY OF ONE DEAD TETA I THINK YOU VE LOST YOUR MINDS. TO SHOW YOU HOW A HYPOCRITE HE WAS, HE IS NOT EVEN USING THE HEARSES THAT ARE FOR FREE. HE CAN GO FOR ALL WE CARE. BY THE WAY YOU ZAMBIANS ABROAD PASSPORT EXTENSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TILL DECEMBER

  70. Now it is Bonshe who is very sick in UTH. Bonshe is Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and MP for Mufumbwe also of NWP. He is also the owner of some make shift Remmy Guest House along Lumumba road opposite Matero Police Station. As you may be aware club zone, Moycell is just next door and Lumumba road carters for girl from, Mandevu, George, Matero, Chunga,Chaisa and also Emasdale itself. GOd bless NWP, other MPs are resigning and our own from NWP are dying. RB help us the pipo of NWP pray for our safety. Is it Katele behind this?

  72. Teta was a selfish man and did not have a heart for the Zambians but was only trying to serve his interests. He was a man who wanted to amass as much wealth for himself at the expense of the Zambian pipo. He imposed old man RB knowing that the man was incapable of leading this nation.His death should be a lesson to all. No man is immortal God hears his pipos cries.

  73. MY FELLOW BLOGGERS. PLEASE RESPECT THE DEAD. TETA MAY HAVE BEEN CONTRAVERSIAL AND BOOTILIGGER OF ALL TIMES BUT IT’S VITAL THAT WE ACCORD HIM RESPECT TO REST IN PEACE AND CONFORT HIS FAMILY. TO BE HONEST I NEVA LIKED THE MAN NOT EVEN A BIT. BUT TO SOME HE WAS A GREAT MAN. DEATH IS JUST WHAT IT IS. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.

  74. Fellow bloggers Jesus said ‘the new command i give you is that you love one another” Above all that we should love our neighbours as ourselves. These should include even the neighbours that we do not like or agree with all or sometimes.

  78. Lets be sensitive and let us not to think us we are not sinners. Teta made his on mistake just like all of us and he also did some good things. Do not tok ill of the dead for u shall all die 1 day. From the way most of u people tok u are no difffrent from the people u condemn no wonder if u continue toking politics yo lives will remain the same and u will die complaning.

  80. Disappointing people of solwezi you can have your mother f***er back. Learn a lesson and dont vote another mother fu**kr in the by election to ensue.

  83. The comments made about this tragedy bear testimony to why Zambia does not have appropriate development. We should be asking whether this was a ‘needless’ death. Could better medical facilities prevented this? Remember, for every prominent person who dies, thousands in the shanty and villages have suffered the same fate. All the politicians are just talking about is the deceased. What about the living. How can the government ensure that they do not suffer the same fate? Governance is about asking such questions and not just driving GRZ vehicles.

  85. Those condemnig late Teta having nothing to offer they are just trying to fill up empty gaps in their brians. Teta was a fearless political warrior and whose contributions to Zambia will be missed. He spoke off his mind on important national issues without fear or favour. When it mattered others walked with their tails down only peddling lies. Yes, he is gone but we will vote for replacement on MMD ticket. Pipo are born and later on die in different circumstances. Current crop of politicians from NWP are no match for late Teta and that is a fact. Governing a country is not easy and RB needs women and men of substance like Mike Mulo and afew others who can defend GRZ politicies when it matters.MHSRIP Yaya kafipaipo

  86. I see why Zambia is poor, all the time we speak politics and gossip. Lusaka Times cant you feature developmental stories or educative? we are tired of hearing news about Sata, Siluba, and Kanitundila

  88. RE: chief bootlicker wanted:

    We looking for a new teta .The ideal person must have a bit of sata, ftj, kamalondo,vj,mukombwe, all in one. main duties include being incharge of propagating falsehoods, identifying those to be pangaed, disciplined and will be my personal spokesperson. the adeal candidate will be offered appropriate perks and benefits. All applications must be routed through RBB for vetting and he will recommend the suitable licker…. Good luck

  92. #82. Pa Zed we talk politics day in day out. Its up to us bloggers to introduce educative issues and community news.The ones to blame are journalists, whenever RB is leaving Lusaka they are all over the airport apron interviewing RB sometimes even on minor issues which one has an answer already. The problem is our local media.

  93. shame the man has no property or investments in solwezi even the house his family is occupying is not his, his farm is a ramshakoooo……………what a cadre

  96. #83 we are not talking about denying the bad deeds someone did but about all the insults and degrading comments people are making, what if it was your loved ones left to endure such or if you yourself had to endure such attitudes from people during a time when you needed someone to lean on? We like to point out the bad in others but only see the good in ourselves. Your words should build someone not break them in this case Mr Teta’s family should be comforted, what he did is between him and God no one else.

  97. #75 Kas, Why don’t you just write in your own language instead of pretending that you can express yourself in English?

  98. Ladies and gentlemen, I think the count down for HOME affairs deputy minister Misheck Bonshe is on, lekeni izandelele in the land of Adamson Bratson Mushala. So funny to hear Kanitundila agreeing Teta was controversial, that has to be the mother of all understatements, the buffoon was uncouth and his perpetual acute mouth diarrhea was not only nauseous but dangerously infectious as seen from people like Kanitundila, Shikapwasha, Mulongoti and Kunda who came into contact with the wicked leper. It’s good they are burrying him far away from Leopard’s Hill because it will be an insult to rest such a vile primate in the same yard as legends like Mwanakatwe, Mundia etc. May his soul roast in everlasting fire like the one behind me!

  100. #75 wabe bolo. Does it mean that Teta stops being an ***** because he is dead? One ***** less in the world, the better society we will have. Ulufyono

  101. AM AT PAINS TO SEE ELDERLY PEOPLE LIKE MABENGA CELEBRATING THE ACQUITTAL OF PUBLIC ENEMY No1 WHEN IT WAS THIS SAME MABENGA & CO WHO CELEBRATED WHEN LPM INNITIATED THE ARREST OF THIS CHILUBA. RBB MUST BE WARY OF THESE CHARECTERS, THEY LIKE FLIES WHICH WILL FLY WHEREVER THERE IS DIRT. AND FOR MMD MEMBERS I POSE A QUESTION: DONT YOU PEOPLE HAVE BRAINS OF YOUR OWN? I SAY SO BECAUSE YOU GO WITH WHAT EVER YOUR PRESIDENT DOES. VJ IS FIRED YOU DANCE IN JOY. VJ IS REINSTATED YOU DANCE IN JOY.

  102. Todays Times of Zambia and Daily Mail newspapers are full of Teta pictures and messages of Condolences. Please let us mourn our Teta in peace just like the companys who have posted messages of condolences. You may have had issues with him. But just for once have some dignity to respect him in his death. None of us is perfect we are only different from Teta because we are not in the spotlight like teta was. Some of youif you were in the spotlight like Teta was…………………..

  103. ‘Though he was controversial he stood for what he believed and people are free to describe him in whatever way they like because Zambia is a democratic country.’
    Lo, RB is oriented in time, space and person.

  104. #75. ni suspect designer of those hand bags at Kulamba traditional ceremony (2009 I, was buy this bag at c………….. ceremony when I was buy).

  106. #102 In My Own Word. You have a point. But those adverts mean nothing. Their sincerity cannot be determined. In Zambia all people who have died have never been condemned at the grave yard regardless of what reputation they had left behind.

  107. FELLOW BLOGGERS, PLEASE GUIDE ME ON A VERY SERIOUS NOTE. IS IT LOGICALLY PRUDENT FOR ME TO PAY ZAMTEL BILLS WHEN THE COMPANY IS BEING SOLD BY RB?

  109. # 92 you are missing the point. people are mourning teta in three ways; teta as a politician, teta as a human being, and teta as a relative (whether father, uncle husband etc). for a person choosing to remember him as a politician, teta certainly made many mistakes. it matters less how someone chooses to express their displeasure about his political misdeeds.

  110. Number 80. Please if you dont have constructive contributions to make here, better you read other peoples views. Insulting the people of Solwezi shows me how lowly educated you are. Not all Solwezi people voted for Teta a you are assuming. Be reasonable in your contributions

  111. And Prof Chirwa said MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga was not fit to serve as lands deputy minister because the Supreme Court established that he abused about K30 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

    Prof Chirwa said Mabenga did not deserve to be a deputy minister since there was a Supreme Court ruling against him.

    Prof Chirwa further charged that it was a disgrace for the country to have low caliber ministers like Tetamashimba who he said he could not employ not even as a secretary. [ Courtesy, The Post Archives]

  112. Bloggers why can’t we have words like “Teta you were my role model and I admire Teta’s hardwork I will surely miss him” we can pretend and act blind but we know what the nation gained from a person like Teta. I had hoped for his recovery because I believed that after having been in a coma he would have been a better person. Lesson to all life is short its not worth living like an immortal because death catches up with you when you list expect.

  113. N# 110 Am not insulting the people of solwezi but you insulted yourselves wen you voted for him. Moreover am not as lowly educated as you presume. I guess am even more educated than you are. Dont force me to reveal who i am and wat i am.

  114. The passing of Ben Tetamashimba iz sad, may the good Lord give the family strength. Where I come from, it may be alright for the King/Chief/Prezident to visit a funeral house of a subject but certainly not going to the burial and the like.

  118. “And whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, as well as outside my profession in my intercourse with men, if it be what should not be published abroad, I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets. ”
    — Part of Hippocratic Oath
    between 5th c. BC & 1st c. AD

  120. Just because one did not agree with Teta does not mean people should be dancing on his grave. Did he commit mass genocide, did he abduct children and force them to fight and be sexually abused like Joseph Kony of the Lord’s resistance army in Uganda? The way some people talk you would think that they will never die themselves. You claim to be better than Teta and yet show no compassion what so ever for the people he has left behind.

  122. I think pipi should learn to forgive.whats the problem kanshi?I have already said you Teta haters you cannot define him period.Its only the God who can define.Start talking about another topic and let the man’s soul travel in peace. Do not disturb his way. he is still travelling to meet his creator

  123. Could someone please tell those guy’s that South Africa is not for miracle recovery.Buy U.T.H and the other hospitals the equipment needed and pay our health workers what is due to them you have wasted enough money as it is.

  124. Ala Teta ino nshita ali mumpumo, we now have to work on Kafupi. Next time he comes down here for his so called checkups ngatebufi, we shall again instruct the nurses to work on him akabwekelemo cargo stanyina.

  125. What gets me is RB faking to continue with LPM’s legacy and yet becomes friends with all of LPM’s enemies. How can RB be seen at the funeral of this Teta chap, with Chiluba/ People of God, can’t we see that RB is riding us for free? He is gallopping and enjoying our peacefulness.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading