President Rupiah Banda has signed the book of condolences for late second republican President Fredrick Chiluba who died on Saturday at his Kabulonga home in Lusaka.
President Banda who has declared seven days of national mourning for the former head of State signed the book at 16:50 hours when he visited Belvedere Lodge, the venue of the funeral this afternoon (Tuesday).
“What a great loss to Zambia and Africa, as a whole. May the all mighty receive his son and look after his family,” President Banda wrote in a brief message in the book of condolences.
Mr. Banda who was received by some of his senior government officials was accompanied by the first Lady.
President Banda and his wife immediately after arriving at the funeral venue went on to console Dr Chiluba’s widow and children.
The Zambian president openly wept for the late head of state at the funeral venue.
President Banda had forged a close relationship with the former president who had been acquitted in the courts of law for offences of plunder of national resources involving millions of dollars.
He touted himself as President Banda’s political consultant.
Ironically, Dr Chiluba had in 1995 detained Mr. Banda when he was still a senior UNIP official and other party members in a case that came to be known as the “zero option” in which UNIP members allegedly plotted to oust the then new MMD government.
Dr Chiluba’s death is likely to be as political as was his life.
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