6 October 2008
ACTING President, Rupiah Banda, has thanked the Church for holding the nation together through prayer during the time of the illness, death and funeral of president Mwanawasa.
Mr Banda said that since president Mwanawasa fell ill and eventually died , the Church held constant prayers and it was sad that despite fervent prayer, Dr Mwanawasa died as that was God's plan.
The vice-president said this yesterday at the Cathedral of the Hoy Cross during the memorial service for Dr Mwanawasa.
He said that from the time of Dr Mwanawasa's illness the nation had gone through the most trying moments.
"This country has gone through a difficult period from the time that the president fell ill and subsequently died. The leaders of the Church had called us so as to pray that the president could be healed. When he passed on, this country came to a stop," he said.
He assured the Mwanawasa family that the people of Zambia loved them and were praying for them to be stronger even in the absence of Dr Mwanawasa. Mr Banda said that the Governmnet would offer all the assistance it could to the Mwanawasa family.
Mr Banda said that the presence of former President Kenneth Kaunda, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Cabinet ministers and several Lusaka residents at the memorial service was testimony of how they loved Dr Mwanawasa.
He said it was, therefore, important that the leadsership that would be ushered in after the October 30 polls followed the policies that Dr Mwanawasa initiated.
Mr Banda said it would be wrong to divert from Dr Mwanawasa's policies.
At the same occasion, Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa thanked the Government, Church and citizens for the prayers during the difficult times that the family has been going through.
Mrs Mwanawasa said that Dr Mwanawasa worked hard to improve the economy of Zambia, saying whoever would assume office should continue from the foundation laid by Dr Mwanawasa.
Among the plans that he had, Mrs Mwanawasa said, was the formation of the construction bank to support the construction industry and develop Livingstone into a modern tourist resort.
Mrs Mwanawasa said that the programme that Dr Mwanawasa had should not be abandoned.
"It would, therefore, not be prudent for the new leader to embark on a new path and change direction. The best approach for the new leader would be to maintain the course on the same path," Mrs Mwanawasa said.
As for her, she said she would continue with programmes of helping the vulnerable through the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI).
The first reading was done by Dr Mnwanawas's daughter, Mirriam, while the second reading was by his son Matolo.
And in a welcoming message, Deacon Kenneth Mwanza said that the Mwanawasa family should accept the death of their member as that was God's will.
In his sermon, Twin Palm Baptist Pastor, William Chanda, said that despite losing their beloved one, the Mwanawasa family should realise that God would not abandon them.
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