THE Baptist Fellowship of Zambia has described the late third Republican president Levy Mwanawasa, as a hero who upheld honesty and integrity until his death.

And the organisation has thanked the Government for naming some of the facilities after Dr Mwanawasa.

Executive Secretary Reverend Luke Buleya was speaking in Lusaka yesterday at the fourth memorial service held at Twin Palm Baptist Church in honour of Dr Mwanawasa organised by the Levy Patrick Mwanawasa Foundation.

Dr Mwanawasa died in France on August 19 2008 at the age of 59.

Rev Buleya told congregants that the late president would be remembered for his immense sacrifices he made to his family and the nation during his life and duty.

Rev Buleya said Zambia's history could not be complete without giving the good examples of what Dr Mwanawasa did for the country.

Wife of the late president, Maureen Mwanawasa, said in an interview that she had carried on with life in the absence of her husband because she believed in God for strength and inspiration.

Ms Mwanawasa said she supported calls by the Levy Mwanawasa Foundation to have August 19 declared a National Day like the South Africa's Nelson Mandela Day.

And in his tribute to Dr Mwanawasa, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa Foundation Chairperson Moses Banda said Dr Mwanawasa never had a luxurious stay in power as he worked hard to fight drought, HIV and AIDS and other challenges which had rocked Zambia.

Dr Banda recounted how the former president embraced people from different walks of life including opposition leaders.

One of Dr Mwanawasa's children Chipo read out from the Bible 2nd Timothy 4 Verse 1 to 8.

Among the people who attended the service were first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for administration Teddy Mulonga, United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hachilema.

Others were Heritage Party president Godfrey Miyanda, Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fred Mtesa and other political party representatives, relatives, friends, and church leaders.