4 September 2008
FORMER first lady, Maureen Mwanawasa yesterday paid tribute to her late husband, saying she will remember him as a dedicated lawyer who died on duty at the battlefront in service of Zambia.
She said the late president, who was being buried on his birthday, had planned to hold a joint celebration with his 20th wedding anniversary which should have fallen yesterday.
Mrs Mwanawasa said this in a message read for her by senior private secretary at State House, Florence Chawela, during a funeral service for Dr Mwanawasa.
She said it was sad that President Mwanawasa's birthday had turned out to be his burial day, leaving her with the responsibility of being the father and mother of the family.
The former first lady said the family would treasure Dr Mwanawasa as a friend and a caring father of everyone in the family.
"A tribute to a friend and husband, his Excellency Dr Mwanawasa. Mr President, today is your 60th birthday, Mr President, this year marks our 20th wedding anniversary.
"The tables are turned, this our 20th anniversary fulfils our wedding vows, 'Till death do us part'. This month of celebration is now your death month and the day of your birth, September 3, is now your burial day," she said.
Mrs Mwanawasa further said: "Mr President, ascending to the highest office in the land did not change your personality. You still were Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, a person who believed in working hard for his motherland, you sacrificed your life for Zambia.
"Gallant soldier, typical of you, you died on duty, you died on the battlefront. Zambia has mourned you as a president who lost his life in office," she said.
Mrs Mwanawasa also revealed that Dr Mwanawasa put his desire for Zambia in a will for the country because of his love and made efforts to serve as faithfully as he could.
"We shall be able to hear your will for the country as soon as Cabinet gives a go-ahead. What manner of man were you? I have wondered much, a man who leaves a will for the nation, may be I lived with an angel, I don't know."
Mrs Mwanawasa prayed that God would honour her late husband's vision of a democratic, successful, rehabilitated and economically-integrated Zambia.
She said Dr Mwanawasa died a sad man thinking he was not good enough for the Zambian people because no one seemed to appreciate the many sacrifices that he made.
Mrs Mwanawasa said her husband thought that he was unable to meet the expectations of the Zambian people because nobody praised him for what he did.
She said the appreciation and accolades the Zambian people were showering following Dr Mwanawasa's death could have made him happy if he was alive and that she would mourn him as a great man, a dedicated democrat and great humanist.
Dr Mwanawasa always worried about the future of young people and desired and worked towards ensuring that young people had access to education, better healthcare and employment.
Mrs Mwanawasa said the late president would be missed by all because he practised what he preached.
She said Africa had lost a great leader who was deeply committed to the fight against corruption.
She said Dr Mwanawasa longed for a country that respects the rule of law and introduced a new type of leadership.
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