3 September 2008
AT least eight Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government and several other foreign dignitaries yesterday arrived in Zambia and more were expected last night to attend the burial of late President Mwanawasa.
A sombre mood characterised the arrivals and all those who spoke at the Lusaka International Airport described the death of Dr Mwanawasa as a great loss to the region and the entire world.
By Press time, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, Joseph Kabila (Democratic Republic of Congo), Ian Khama (Botswana), Malawi's Bingu Wa Mutharika and Lesotho Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili had all arrived.
Other African dignitaries who arrived were Ugandan Vice-President, Gilbert Bukenya, and Liberian foreign affairs minister, Olubanke King-Akerele.
The Japanese Prime Minister's representative, Tetsuro Yano, Chinese foreign affairs minister, Yang Jiesha, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) director-general, Jacques Diouf and the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kenya, Aneas Chuma.
Mr Kikwete said it was sad that Dr Mwanawasa had died because he played a key role in the development of Zambia and the whole region.
Mr Guebuza said Africa had lost a great leader whose input would have helped move the continent forward.
Mr Kibaki said Dr Mwanawasa's leadership would be greatly missed.
Dr Mutharika said the late president was a dedicated leader who worked tirelessly to try and solve problems of the SADC region and preached unity among Africans.
President Khama said Botswana and Zambia shared the same vision and it was unfortunate that Dr Mwanawasa had died.
Mr Bukenya said Uganda and the whole Great Lakes region would miss Dr Mwanawasa for his ceaseless efforts in trying to resolve the conflict there.
Mr Yano said Dr Mwanawasa greatly contributed to the success of the last TICAD summit in Japan and would be missed for his valuable contributions.
Former Tanzanian president, Benjamin Mkapa said Dr Mwanawasa was a champion of democracy and would be sadly missed.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Times of Zambia. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
