2 May 2008
Ndola — PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata, has described the death of his son, Chilufya, as a severe blow, which came when he least expected it.
In a moving eulogy read by his niece. Monty Tembo. during the requiem mass for the late Chilufya, 30, at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Sata, who is currently in South Africa for medication, said that he wished he was present to bury his son and namesake.
Mourners, who included Second Republican president Fredrick Chiluba, were in tears as Ms Tembo read out the eulogy entitled Chilufya Mwana Wandi (Chilufya my child).
Mr Sata said it was very difficult to say anything on the death, especially of a child who was so close to him.
"It's true 'umwana takula kuli wishi' (A child cannot be old before his father), I remember your birth like yesterday and now I have to say goodbye. My words are few not because I have nothing to say but because of the great pain I feel inside," Mr Sata said.
Mr Sata said that the death of his son grieved him so much, leaving him with what he described as a wound inside his heart.
He paid tribute to all those who helped in various ways, saying the gesture rendered lightened his burden and asked God to reward such people abundantly.
Earlier, giving a life history of Chilufya, his elder brother, Mulenga, said the deceased would be remembered as a sociable and generous person who would be missed by his family and the community he lived with.
Chilufya was born on September 12, 1977, attended schools at Nkwazi Primary and went to Botswana before he was recalled by the family and continued his secondary school at Licef. A nine-year-old son survives him.
And family representative, Alexander Chikwanda, commended the Government for the support rendered to the family, describing it as a symbol of unity and peace which went beyond political affiliations.
"Let me on behalf of the family join Mr and Mrs Sata in thanking our Government for the most appropriate action of flying Mr Sata with exceptional promptness to South Africa to save his life," Mr Chikwanda said.
In his sermon, St Ignatius Jesuit priest, Charles Chilinda, called on the mourners not to fear death but put their houses in order as God would expect of them.
Father Chilinda said those who did not believe in God always struggled in their death but now was time for people to realise that power, popularity and money would not save them but only God could.
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